葫芦素类(Cucurbitacins)成分是从植物中提得的一类高度氧化的四环三萜类化合物,具有多种生物活性。其中细胞毒与抗肿瘤作用尤其引人注目。本文拟就此类成分的化学和生物活性等方面的进展,作一简要综述。葫芦素类是从葫芦科多种植物中分得的苦昧甙元成分的通称。早在1831年,已从葫芦科植物中分得第一个结晶性物质,命名为Elate-tin,即葫芦素E(Cucurbitacin E)。虽然在本世纪初已开始对其分子结构进行研究,但直至60年代,随着近代光谱技术的发展,结构的 Cucurbitacins (Cucurbitacins) are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids derived from plants and have a variety of biological activities. Cytotoxicity and anti-tumor effects are especially noticeable. In this paper, we will make a brief review on the progress of chemical and biological activities of such components. Cucurbitacins are cucurbitacin from a variety of Cucurbita plant components derived from glyphosgenin generic term. As early as 1831, the first crystalline material was isolated from the Cucurbitaceae plant and named Elate-tin, Cucurbitacin E (Cucurbitacin E). Although the beginning of this century has begun to study its molecular structure, but until the 60s, with the development of modern spectroscopy, the structure of