Description
Cucurbitacin I is a naturally occurring tetracyclic triterpenoid compound with a variety of physiological effects, including induction of apoptosis and blockade of cell cycle progression in various cancer cells. It has also been shown to have anti-angiogenic activity. Cucurbitacin I inhibits the phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1, which are key regulators of endothelial cell function and angiogenesis. Therefore, Cucurbitacin I is considered a potential angiogenesis inhibitor candidate for cancer therapy[1].
Uses
Cucurbitacin I can be useful in the study of edible vitalmelon fruit extract and adipogenesis.
Definition
ChEBI: A cucurbitacin that is 9,10,14-trimethyl-4,9-cyclo-9,10-secocholesta-2,5,23-triene substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 2, 16, 20 and 25 and oxo groups at positions 1, 11 and 22.
Biological Activity
Selective inhibitor of STAT3/JAK2 signaling. Inhibits the activation of STAT3 and JAK2 and displays no activity on Src, Akt, ERK and JNK. Suppresses phosphotyrosine levels of STAT3, inhibits STAT3 DNA binding and STAT3-mediated gene expression. Induces apoptosis in cell lines expressing constitutively active tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Cucurbitacin I (JSI-124) is a novel selective inhibitor of the janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway with anti-proliferative and anti-tumor properties.
References
blaskovich ma, sun j, cantor a et al. discovery of jsi-124 (cucurbitacin i), a selective janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway inhibitor with potent antitumor activity against human and murine cancer cells in mice.cancer res. 2003 mar 15;63(6):1270-9.yu h, lee h, herrmann a et al. revisiting stat3 signalling in cancer: new and unexpected biological functions.nat rev cancer. 2014 nov;14(11):736-46. doi: 10.1038/nrc3818.song j, liu h, li z et al. cucurbitacin i inhibits cell migration and invasion and enhances chemosensitivity in colon cancer. oncol rep. 2015 apr;33(4):1867-71. qi j, xia g, huang cr et al. jsi-124 (cucurbitacin i) inhibits tumor angiogenesis of human breast cancer through reduction of stat3 phosphorylation. am j chin med. 2015;43(2):337-47.kim hj, kim jk et al. antiangiogenic effects of cucurbitacin-i. arch pharm res. 2015 feb;38(2):290-8. yuan g, yan sf, xue h et al. cucurbitacin i induces protective autophagy in glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo. j biol chem. 2014 apr 11;289(15):10607-19.
