Isolation of a guanylate cyclase inhibitor from the balsam pear (Momordica charantia abreviata).

摘要: Summary The balsam pear ( Momordica charantia abreviata ) is a plant which grows wild throughout subtropical regions including the Gulf Coast and Florida. ripe fruit highly toxic produces mild hypoglycemia. Preparations of leaves but not unripe or seeds inhibited guanylate cyclase activity whereas adenylate was unaffected. inhibitor (GCI) has been purified about 30-fold an estimated molecular weight 5000 to 50,000 acid stable heat labile. GCI blocked activation by nitroso chemical carcinogens, therefore, may be useful in studying mechanisms carcinogenesis.