Cucurbitacin D, a triterpenoid isolated from Ecballium elaterium (L.), exhibits anticancer and antitumor activity, inhibits glucose uptake and lactate production in metastatic PrC, and induces inflammasome activation independent of ERK1 2 activation. Cucurbitacin D, a novel inflammasome activator in macrophages, inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by modulating the JAK STAT3, PI3K Akt mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways, and can be used in the study of cervical cancer, leukemia, and prostate cancer.

Cucurbitacin B 2-o-α²-D-glucoside has anticancer activity.

Arvenin II is a natural product from Hemsleya amabilis.

Cucurbitacin I, cytotoxic triterpenoid sterols isolated from plants, elicits the formation of actin phospho-myosin II co-aggregates by stimulation of the RhoA ROCK pathway and inhibition of LIM-Kinase.

Cucurbitacins from Wilbrandia ebracteata have analgesic effects. Cucurbitacin S has anticancer and antiinflammatory activities.