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. 2022 Dec 31;20:630. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03828-3

Table 1.

Summarized data regarding the botanical sources and potential pharmacological effects of cucurbitacins

Cucurbitacins/Sources Pharmacological effects Refs.

Cucumis sativus

(Cucumber)

Anticancer potential against liver cancer HepG2 cell [28]

Cucurbita moschata

(Butternut Squash)

Anticancer potential

↓cells tumour growth

↑ribosome-inactivating proteins

[17, 29, 30]

Cucumis melo

(Melon)

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiulcer, anticancer, antimicrobial, diuretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulator [17, 29, 30]

Citrullus lanatus

(Watermelon)

Antidiabetes [33]

Cucurbita pepo

(Pumpkin)

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, analgesic

Anti-carcinogenic, anti-proliferative

Pro-apoptotic properties against tumor cells

[17, 34]

Iberis amara

(Wild candytuft)

Anti-inflammatory [39, 40]

Coutarea hexandra

(Coutarea)

Treatment of malaria, cancer, inflammation, and diabetes [15]
Begonia nantoensis Cytotoxic effect against cancer cell lines [43]

Kageneckia oblonga

(Bollen)

Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory [44, 45]

Rubus chingii

(Chinese raspberry fruit)

Anti-ageing, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic [46]

Russula lepida

(Russula)

Antitumor activity [50]
Dorid nudibranchs Cytotoxicity against cancer cells [54]