cucurbitacin D

**Cucurbitacin D** is a highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid natural product found in plants such as Cucurbita texana and Ecballium elaterium. It exerts potent **anti-cancer and pro-apoptotic activity** in a range of cancer cell models, including cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers[1][4][7][16]. Its mechanism of action includes the disruption of Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) and co-chaperone (Cdc37 and p23) interactions, leading to impaired maturation of Hsp90-dependent client proteins (such as Her2, Raf, Cdk6, and pAkt)[2][15]; inhibition of the PI3K-Akt, JAK-STAT, and ErbB signaling pathways; reduction of phosphorylated STAT3, Akt, and NF-κB signaling; induction of apoptosis via effects on PARP cleavage, p53, Bcl-2, and caspase-3; and cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase through downregulation of Cyclin D1 and CDK4 and upregulation of p21 and p27[1][4][7][6].

Other names

(+)-Cucurbitacin DElatericin ACucurbit Delatericineacucurbitacine(d)Cucurbitacin D-RM20,25-tetrahydroxy-phCucurbitacin D(AS)(10α,23E)-2β,16α,20,25-Tetrahydroxy-9β-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-diene-3,11,22-trione