Momordin (saponin)

Momordin is one of several saponins derived from oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid. These chemical compounds are found in some plants of the Momordica genus, which includes the bitter melon (M. charantia) and the balsam apple (M. balsamina), as well as in other Asian herbal medicine plants such as Kochia scoparia and Ampelopsis radix.^[1][2]

Momordins include:

• Momordin I, oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside. A white powder that decomposes at 235-240 °C. Found in the root of Momordica cochinchinensis were it constitutes 10% of the dried methanol extract.^{[2] [3]}
• Momordin Ia, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin Ib, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin Ic or (3β)-17-carboxy-28-norolean-12-en-3-yl 3'-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucuronide (C₄₁H₆₄O₁₃), CAS number 96990-18-0. It is obtained as colorless fine crystals that decompose at 240°C. It inhibits gastric emptying in mice.^[1].^[5]
• Momordin Id, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin Ie, CAS 96158-13-3.^[6]

• Momordin II, the 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of momordin I. Colorless needles, soluble in methanol, that melt at 240-245°C. Also from M. cochinchinensis; identical to hemsloside Ma_1 from Hemsleya macrosperma and H. chinensis^[2]
• Momordin IIa, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin IIb, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin IIc, either the same as oleanic acid^[7] or (quinoside D)[β-D-glucopyranosyl 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)] oleanolate]^[8]
• Momordin IId, from M. cochinchinensis.^[4]
• Momordin IIe, CAS 96158-12-2.^[9]

• Momordin III, 3β-hydroxy-11α, 12α-epoxy-olean-28,13-olide 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside. Also from M. cochinchinensis. ^[2]

See also

• Momordin (protein), unrelated enzymes (proteins) from Momordica and other plants.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} H. Matsuda, Y. Li, J. Yamahara, M. Yoshikawa (1999) Inhibition of gastric emptying by triterpene saponin, momordin Ic, in mice: roles of blood. J Pharmacol Experimental Therapy, volume 289, pages 729-34. PubMed
2. ^ ^{a b c d} IWAMOTO MASAYO, OKABE HIKARU, and YAMAUCHI TATSUO (1985) Studies on the Constituents of Momordica cochinchinensis SPRENG. II. Isolation and Characterization of the Root Saponins, Momordins I, II and III. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, volume 33, issue 1, pages 1-7
3. ^ Juhyung Lee, Chi-Hoon Park, Wook-Hwan Kim, Yun Ha Hwang, Kyungchae jeong, and Chul-Hak Yang (2006), Inhibitory effects of momordin I derivatives on the formation of Fos-Jun-AP-1 DNA complex. Bull. Korean Chem. Soc, volume 27, issue 4, page 535.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Khesort Nantachit, Patoomratana Tuchinda (2009) Antimicrobial Activity of Hexane and Dichloromethane Extracts from Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng Leaves. Thai Pharmaceutical and Health Science Journal, volume 4 issue 1, pages 15-20.
5. ^ Kim, Na-Young; Lee, Mi-Kyung; Park, Myoung-Ju; Kim, Seog-Ji; Park, Hee-Jun; Choi, Jong-Won; Kim, Seok-Hwan; Cho, Soo-Yeul; Lee, Jeong-Sook (2005) Momordin Ic and Oleanolic Acid from Kochiae Fructus Reduce Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats Journal of Medicinal Food, volume 8, issue 2, doi:10.1089/jmf.2005.8.177
6. ^ Momordin Ie catalog entry at Trading Chem. Accessed 2011-01-01.
7. ^ Momordin IIc catalog entry] from NextBio. Acessed on 2011-01-01.
8. ^ András Simon, Gábor Tóth, Helmut Duddeck, Hesham S M Soliman, Ibrahim I Mahmoud, Hanan Samir (2006) Glycosides from Bougainvillea glabra. Natural product research, volume 20, issue 1, pages 63-67 PubMed
9. ^ Momordin IIe catalog page at Look Chemical. Accessed on 2011-01-01.