Chemical Analysis of the Fruit Juice of Ecballium Elaterium

Abstract

This study investigates the chemical structure of the fluid extracted from the fruit of Ecballium elaterium (commonly known as squirting cucumber), which naturally grows in various regions of Turkey. The compound α-elaterin (cucurbitacin E), known for its anti-tumor effects, was successfully isolated in high yield and confirmed by IR spectra and melting point measurements consistent with literature data. Additionally, derivatives such as elaterin diacetate, elateridin, ecballic acid, and tris-phenylhydrazone were synthesized. Attempts to isolate elaterisin A and B, previously reported in the literature, were unsuccessful. Further experimental research is recommended to evaluate the anti-tumor activities of the isolated compounds.

Keywords

• kimya
• analiz
• meyve

Ecballium Elaterium Meyve Usaresinin Kimyasal Analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin çeşitli bölgelerinde yetişen Ecballium elaterium bitkisinin (halk arasında eşekhıyarı olarak bilinir) meyvesinden elde edilen sıvının kimyasal yapısını incelemektedir. Özellikle anti-tümör etkileriyle bilinen cucurbitacin E (α-elaterin) adlı bileşik yüksek verimle izole edilmiş ve IR spektrumları ile erime noktaları literatür değerleriyle doğrulanmıştır. Ek olarak elaterin diasetat, elateridin, ekbalik asit ve tris-fenilhidrazon gibi türevleri elde edilmiştir. Ancak literatürde tanımlanan elaterisin A ve B bileşikleri başarılı şekilde izole edilememiştir. Elde edilen bileşiklerin deneysel anti-tümör etkilerinin ileri çalışmalarda değerlendirilmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• kimya
• meyve
• analiz

References

1. 1. Belkin M, Fitzgerald D B — Tumordamaging capacity of plant materials. I. Plants used as cathartics. *J. Nat. Cancer Inst.*, 13: 139, 1952.
2. 2. Evspamer V — *Riv. ital. essenze profumi piante offic. olii vegetali, Saponi*, 28: 264, 1946.
3. 3. Gallily R ve ark — Further studies on the antitumor effect of cucurbitacins. *Cancer Res.*, 22: 1038, 1962.
4. 4. Gitter S ve ark — Studies on the antitumor effect of cucurbitacins. *Cancer Res.*, 21: 516, 1961.
5. 5. Kupchan S M ve ark — Tumor inhibitors. Cucurbitacins O, P and Q. The Cytotoxic principles of Brandegea bigelovii. *J. Org. Chem.*, 35: 2891, 1970.
6. 6. Kupchan S M ve ark — Datiscacin, a novel cytotoxic cucurbitacin 20-acetate from Datisca glomerata. *J. Org. Chem.*, 38: 1420, 1973.
7. 7. Lavie D — The constituents of Ecballium elaterium. I. The oxygen functions of elaterin. *Chemistry and Industry*, 466, 1956.
8. 8. Lavie D, Szinai S — The constituents of Ecballium elaterium. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, 80: 707, 1958.

9. 9. Lavie D ve ark — The constituents of Ecballium elaterium. Elatericin A and B. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, 80: 710, 1957.
10. 10. Lavie D ve ark — Proposed structures for elaterisin. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, 82: 966, 1959.
11. 11. Lavie D ve ark — Further studies on the constituents of Ecballium elaterium. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, 82: 1668, 1959.
12. 12. Shohat B ve ark — Antitumor activity of cucurbitacin A: Metabolic aspects. *Cancer Chemother. Rep.*, 23: 19, 1962.