Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''

Hemsleya ''Hemsleya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Its native range is Eastern Himalayas to southern China and Papuasia. It is native to the countries of Assam (in India), Bismarck Archipelago (island group, par ...

'', which are used in

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

folk medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...

. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the

cucurbitane Cucurbitane is a tetracyclic chemical compound with formula . It is a polycyclic hydrocarbon, specifically triterpene. It is also an isomer of lanostane (specifically 19(10→9β)-abeolanostane), from which it differs by the formal shift of ...

skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, Gao-Hong Zhang, Zhong-Quan Zhang, Ming-Hua Qiu, Yong-Tang Zheng, Liu-Meng Yang, Kai-Bei Yu (2008), "Octanorcucurbitane and Cucurbitane Triterpenoids from the Tubers of ''Hemsleya endecaphylla'' with HIV-1 Inhibitory Activity". ''J. Nat. Prod.'' volume 71, pages 153–155 Jian Chao Chen, Ming Hua Chiu, Rui Lin Nie, Geoffrey A. Cordell and Samuel X. Qiu (2005), "Cucurbitacins and cucurbitane glycosides: structures and biological activities" ''Natural Product Reports'', volume 22, pages 386-399 The hemslecins include: *

Hemslecin A Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus '' Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, ...

, 25-acetoxy-23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F, from '' Hemsleya endecaphylla'' and from '' Helmseya amabilis'' *

Hemslecin B Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin F.Jian-Chao Chen, Ga ...

, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F, from ''Hemsleya endecaphylla'' *

Hemslecin C Hemslecin is any of several compounds obtained from plants of the genus ''Hemsleya'', which are used in Asian folk medicine. They are triterpene derivatives, specifically with the cucurbitane skeleton, related to cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin F.Jian-C ...

, synthesized from hemslecin A * Hemslecin D from ''Helmseya lijiangensis'' * Hemslecin E from ''Helmseya lijiangensis'' * Hemslecin F from ''Helmseya lijiangensis'' * Hemslecin G from ''Helmseya gigantha'' Hemslecins A and B have

antibacterial An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention ...

properties, and have been proven to be effective against infectious diseases such as enteritis,

bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...

, acute

tonsillitis Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils in the upper part of the throat. It can be acute or chronic. Acute tonsillitis typically has a rapid onset. Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and en ...

, and bacillary

dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...

References

{{Chemistry index Triterpenes