The document discusses terpenoids, specifically cucurbitacin, detailing their chemical characteristics, biosynthesis, isolation, purification, and medicinal uses. Cucurbitacin, a bitter compound found in the Cucurbitaceae family, has various therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Methods for isolating and purifying cucurbitacin are also outlined, along with references for further reading.

1. TERPENOIDS :
CUCURBITACIN
A Seminar on
SUBMITTED TO :
Miss B. R. Gupta
Dept. of Pharmacognosy
PRESENTED BY :
Miss S. A. Salve
1st Year M.Pharmacy
Dept of Pharmacognosy
Department of Pharmacognosy
MGV’s Pharmacy College, Panchavati, Nashik

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Characterization
• Biosynthesis
• Isolation
• Purification
• Medicinal Uses
• References

3. INTRODUCTION
What is TERPENOIDS?
• The terpenoids sometimes called isoprenoids, are a large and
diverse class of naturally occurring organic chemicals derived
from terpenoids.
• Terpenoids are hydrocarbons of plant origin of the general
formula (C5H8)n as well as their originated, hydrogen and
dehydrogenated derivatives.
• Plant terpenoids are used for their aromatic qualities and play
a role in traditional herbals remedies.

4. CHARACTERIZATION
• Terpenoids are colourless liquids.
• Soluble in organic solvent and insoluble in water.
• Volatile in nature
• Boiling Point is around 150-180°C
• They are unsaturated compound.
• Basically it contain isoprene unit in chemical structure.

5. CUCURBITACIN

6. INTRODUCTION
• Cucurbitacin is a bitter-tasting principle that can be isolated
from members of family Cucurbitaceae, such as cucumber
(Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo).
• In particular, cucurbitacin and momordicine, which have an
intensly bitter taste, are content abundantly in Momordica
charantia.
• There are more than 18 kinds of cucurbitacin and among them
cucurbitacin B is a typical component.

7. DIFFERENT SOURCES OF CUCURBITACIN
Memordica
Melon
Pumpkin Cucumber

8. BIOSYNTHESIS OF CUCURBITACIN

10. ISOLATION
Cucurbitacin
containing plant
material
Pressing
Liquid containing
cucurbitacin
Extracted with non-
polar solvent like
chloroform to remove
the waxes, pigments,
fatty acids terpenes
Separated liquid is
then extracted with
moderately polar
solvent like water
Separation of
cucurbitacin
Collection of
cucurbitacin

11. PURIFICATION
Purification can be done by using:
1. Flash Chromatography
2. Column Chromatography
3. Paper Chromatography
Structure identify by following methods :
• By UV spectroscopy
• By IR spectroscopy
• By MASS spectroscopy
• By NMR spectroscopy

12. CHARACTERIZATION
• Taste : Bitter
• Color : Yellowish
• Molecular Formula : C32H44O8
• Molecular weight : 556.696 g/mol
• Chemical structure of cucurbitacin :

13. MEDICINAL USES
• Anti inflammatory
• Anti tumor
• Anti diabetic
• Anti artherosclerotic
• Anti oxidant activity
• Hepatoprotective
• Anti epileptic
• Anxiolytic
• Antifungal
• Analgesic

14. REFERENCES
1. Ujjwal Kaushik, Vidhu Aeri, Showkat R. Mir, Cucurbitacin – An
insight into medical leads from nature, January-June 2015,
Volume 9, Issue 17, Page no. 12-18
2. Dr. Abdullah A. Alghasham, Cucurbitacin – A Promising Target
for Cancer Therapy, International Journal of Health Sciences
(Qassim University) 2013 Jan; Volume 7(1), Page no. 77-89
3. Ashmi Samual, Cucurbitacins and its Anticancer property: A
Review, Himalayan Journal of Health Sciences, Volume 4, Issue 4;
Oct – Dec 2019