9(Z),11(E),13(E)-Octadecatrienoic Acid ethyl ester (α-ESA) is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly found in plant seed oil. This fatty acid accounts for about 60% of the total fatty acid composition of bitter gourd seed oil and about 70% in tung oil. α-ESA is metabolized and converted to conjugated linoleic acid (9Z,11E-CLA) in rats. It has shown potential as a tumor growth suppressor. In colon cancer Caco-2 cells, α-ESA induced apoptosis through up-regulation of GADD45, p53, and PPARγ. In DLD-1 cells supplemented with α-ESA, apoptosis was induced via lipid peroxidation with an EC50 of 20 μM. It also inhibits DNA polymerases and topoisomerases with IC50s ranging from ~5-20 μM for different isoforms of the enzymes. α-ESA ethyl ester is a neutral, more lipid soluble form of the free acid.
Methyl alpha-eleostearate (α-ESA) is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly found in plant seed oil. This fatty acid accounts for about 60% of the total fatty acid composition of bitter gourd seed oil and about 70% in tung oil. α-ESA is metabolized and converted to conjugated linoleic acid (9Z,11E-CLA) in rats. It has shown potential as a tumor growth suppressor. In colon cancer Caco-2 cells, α-ESA induced apoptosis through up-regulation of GADD45, p53, and PPARγ. In DLD-1 cells supplemented with α-ESA, apoptosis was induced via lipid peroxidation with an EC50 of 20 μM. It also inhibits DNA polymerases and topoisomerases with IC50s ranging from ~5-20 μM for different isoforms of the enzymes. α-ESA methyl ester is a neutral, more lipid soluble form of the free acid.
Cyclo(L-Phe-L-Val) is a metabolite of the sponge bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. NJ6-3-1 that can autoinduce production of antibacterial substances active against S. aureus when co-cultured at a low cell density. It induces neurite outgrowth and branching of chick cortical neurons in vitro when used at concentrations of 16 and 32 μM. It increases phosphorylation of the PI3K substrate Akt, and neurite outgrowth induced by cyclo(L-Phe-L-Val) can be blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 . Cyclo(L-Phe-L-Val) enhances axon sprouting of calcitonin gene-related protein positive (CGRP+) primary afferents in the spinal cord following crush injury and of serotonin neurons in uninjured spinal cord. Cyclo(L-Phe-L-Val) is also a bitter taste component of cocoa and roasted coffee.
Momordicosides K and L, the main bitter taste triterpene glycosides in Bitter melon; and bitter melon has been reported to have hypoglycemic, anti atherogenic and anti HIV activities.