2487. Colocynthin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1398-78-3
25-(Acetyloxy)-2-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-16,20-dihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-1,5,23-triene-3,11,22-trione; 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosylcucurbitacin E.
C38H54O13; mol wt 718.83.
C 63.49%, H 7.57%, O 28.93%.

Description and references

Glucoside from fruit of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad., Cucurbitaceae: Walz, Neues Jahrb. Pharm. 9, 16, 225 (1858); 16, 10 (1861); Henke, Arch. Pharm. 221, 200 (1883); Naylas, Chappel, Pharm. J. 25, 117 (1907); Lavie et al., Acta Univ. Int. Contra Cancerum 15, 177 (1959); Khadem, Rahman, Tetrahedron Lett. 1962, 1137. Other isolns: H. Ripperger, K. Seifert, Tetrahedron 31, 1561 (1975); H. Ripperger, ibid. 32, 1567 (1976). Structure: Khadem, Rahman, J. Chem. Soc. 1963, 4991.

Chemical structure

Properties

Yellow crystals, mp 158-160°. [α]D +50° (c = 0.4 in ethanol). uv max: 234-236 nm (log ε 4.11). Sol in ethanol, acetone, chloroform; slightly sol in ether, water.

Therapeutic Category

Cathartic.

Keywords

Laxative/Cathartic