Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants
08:22

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants

Published on: December 22, 2023

Cucurbitacins as inducers of cell death and a rich source of potential anticancer compounds

J L Ríos1, I Andújar, J M Escandell

  • 1Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Valencia. Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. riosjl@uv.es

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|March 27, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cucurbitacins, a type of triterpene, induce cancer cell death by triggering apoptosis through various molecular pathways. These compounds show promise for cancer treatment, particularly when combined with other therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Natural Products Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Triterpenes, including cucurbitacins, are known to induce cell death.
  • Cucurbitacins have demonstrated apoptotic effects in various cancer cell lines.
  • Research also indicates anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the apoptotic mechanisms of cucurbitacins in cancer cells.
  • To investigate the role of cucurbitacins in modulating key signaling pathways involved in cell death and proliferation.
  • To assess the potential of cucurbitacins as anti-cancer agents.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cucurbitacin-induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines.
  • Investigation of molecular targets including JAK/STAT and MAPK pathways.
  • Assessment of protein expression levels related to apoptosis and cell cycle regulation (e.g., caspase-3, Bcl-2 family, cyclin D3).

Main Results:

  • Cucurbitacins modify transcriptional activities and affect pro- or anti-apoptotic proteins.
  • They selectively inhibit JAK/STAT pathways and impact the MAPK pathway.
  • Observed effects include PARP cleavage, caspase-3 activation, and modulation of STAT3 targets like Mcl-1 and Bcl-2.

Conclusions:

  • Cucurbitacins induce apoptosis through multiple molecular mechanisms, including inhibition of JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling.
  • These compounds regulate key proteins involved in apoptosis and cell cycle progression.
  • Cucurbitacins hold potential for cancer therapy, especially in combination with cytostatic agents.

More Related Videos

Embryo Rescue Protocol for Interspecific Hybridization in Squash09:15

Embryo Rescue Protocol for Interspecific Hybridization in Squash

Published on: September 12, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...