A triterpenoid from wild bitter gourd inhibits prostate cancer cells

Wild bitter gourd, a vegetable, is also used as folk medicine because of its anti-diabetic and chemopreventive effects. The antitumor activity of a triterpenoid, 3β,7β,25-trihydroxy-25-methoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-diene-19-al (TMD), isolated from wild bitter gourd in prostate cancer cells was investigated. TMD suppressed the proliferation of PC-3 prostate cancer cells with IC₅₀ value at 48h of 24µM, respectively. TMD induced cell apoptosis accompanied with pleiotrophic biological modulations including down-regulation of Akt, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and ERK, and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Together, these findings provided the translational value of TMD as an antitumor agent for patients with prostate cancer.