Two new cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia L.

Two new cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, (23E)-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23,25-triene-3β-ol (1) and (19R, 23E)-5β,19-epoxy-19-ethoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3β,25-diol (2), together with three known compounds, have been isolated from the fruit of Momordica charantia L. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis. Their cytotoxic activity was tested on 5 cancer cell lines, MCF-7, HepG2, Du145, Colon205 and HL-60 by MTT assay. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 showed weak cytotoxicity.