OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of unsaponifiable matter from the seed oil of Momordica cochinchinensis.

METHODThe fatty oil from the seeds of M. cochinchinensis was extracted with petroleum ether, and the saponification was carried out with potassium hydroxide. The unsaponifiable matter was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, and the structures of their constituents were elucidated by means of IR, MS, 1H-NMR, and authentic chemicals.

RESULTKarounidiol (1), isokarounidiol (2), 5-dehydrokarounidiol (3), 7-oxodihydrokarounidiol (4), beta-sitosterol (5), stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol (6), and stigmast-7,22-dien-3beta-ol (7) were elucidated.

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were found in this plant for the first time.

Molecular Structure ; Momordica ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification