葫芦科作物苦味物质葫芦素的研究进展

Reseach status and advance of bitter compounds cucurbitacins in Cucurbitaceae crops

葫芦素是一种广泛分布在葫芦科作物中的葫芦烷型四环三萜类物质,这种物质不仅能增强作物对虫害的抵御能力,还具有抗癌、消炎的作用,但它使葫芦科作物出现苦味。本文综述了葫芦素的结构、分布、合成、转运及调控几方面的研究现状与进展,并对今后无苦味葫芦科蔬菜育种、葫芦素的工厂化高效合成及葫芦素在植物体内的转运、转化及降解研究进行了展望,以期为更高效地运用葫芦素、解决生产中的苦味瓜问题提供参考。

Cucurbitacins are a group of cucurbitane-type tetracyclic triterpenoids which widely exist in Cucurbitaceae crops.These compounds can help plants resist pests and have the function of anti-cancer and anti-inflammation to human beings,but they confer bitterness on Cucurbitaceae crops.This paper overviewed the research status on the structure,distribution,biosynthesis,transport and molecular regulation of cucurbitacins.Furthermore,we prospected the breeding of non-bitter Cucurbitaceae vegetables,the efficient industrial synthesis of cucubitacins and their transfer,conversion and degradation in plants,so as to provide reference on efficient use of cucubitacins and reducing bitter cucurbits fruit in production.