Title:Cucurbitacin E, An Experimental Lead Triterpenoid with Anticancer, Immunomodulatory and Novel Effects Against Degenerative Diseases. A Mini-Review
Volume: 15
Issue: 17
Author(s): Everaldo Attard and Maria-Grazia Martinoli
Affiliation:
Keywords:
anti-oxidant, Apoptosis, Autophagy, Cancer, Cucurbitacin E, Cucurbitacins, Inflammation, Neuroprotection,
STAT3 inhibitor.
Abstract: A growing number of studies have revealed that natural molecules own interesting antioxidant
and anti-apoptotic properties in cell culture as well as in animal models of human diseases such
as cancer, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. During the past sixty years, several cucurbitacins
have been isolated from a number of cucurbitaceous species, amongst others. Cucurbitacins are
triterpenoid compounds originally identify as the bitter components of the Cucurbit family that demonstrated
several pro-survival activities in various model of cellular decay. Specifically, Cucurbitacin
E (CuE), an oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid, has been investigated in a wider array of bioactivities, mainly immunomodulatory.
Recently, CuE has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic properties mediated by
its action on the cellular cytoskeleton, on mitotic pathways as well as on cellular autophagy. Few studies also pinpoint the
role of CuE in the nervous system as cytostatic for gliomas and neuroprotective in a model of Parkinson’s diseases. This
review deals with the use of CuE in various experimental models as one of the most promising therapeutic natural molecules
against cancer proliferation, as an immunomudulator and for the prevention of neurodegeneration.
