Cucurbitacins are a class of secondary metabolites initially isolated from the Cucurbitaceae family. They are important for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer biological actions. This review addresses pharmacokinetic parameters recently reported, including absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination phases of cucurbitacins. It includes recent studies of the molecular mechanisms of the biological activity of the most studied cucurbitacins and some derivatives, especially their anticancer capacity, to propose the integration of the pharmacokinetic profiles of cucurbitacins and the possibilities of their use. The main botanical genera and species of American origin that have been studied, and others whose chemo taxonomy makes them essential sources for the extraction of these metabolites, are summarized.

The hybrid Sechium edule H387 07, commonly known as chayote, has shown potential as an antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and pro-apoptotic agent in the murine leukemia cell lines P388 (macrophagic) and J774 (monocytic) and in the myelomonocytic leukemia cell line WEHI-3. However, despite these reported bioactivities, its pharmacokinetic profile remains largely unexplored. Understanding the absorption, distribution, and elimination of this hybrid is critical for addressing unmet therapeutic needs and for advancing the development of natural product-based therapies. These effects are attributed to the presence of phenols, flavonoids, and cucurbitacins in its organic extracts. In this study, the pharmacokinetic parameters of secondary metabolites from methanolic extracts of Sechium H387 07 were evaluated after oral administration in mice, while its segregant H387 M16 was subjected to complementary phytochemical characterization. Methanolic extracts of Sechium edule H387 07 were orally administered to mice at doses of 8, 125, and 250 mg/kg, and plasma, liver, and urine samples were collected at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h post-treatment. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified polyphenols and cucurbitacins, notably cucurbitacin B (CuB) and cucurbitacin IIA (CuIIA), in the biological samples, and pharmacokinetic variables such as the maximum plasma concentration (C_max), time to reach maximum concentration (T_max), half-life (T_1/2), and volume of distribution (V_d) were determined. For instance, CuB exhibited a C_max of 37.56 µg/mL at 1 h post-dose after oral administration of 125 mg/kg, confirming its rapid absorption and systemic distribution. Notably, the presence of CuIIA in plasma was documented for the first time, along with the pharmacokinetic profiles of apigenin, phloretin, CuB, CuE, and CuI. In parallel, the segregant H387 M16 was characterized via colorimetric assays, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), HPLC, and antioxidant activity tests, which revealed high levels of flavonoids, phenols, and cucurbitacins, with an antioxidant activity of approximately 75% at the highest tested dose (1 mg/mL), supporting its suitability for future bioassays. Overall, these findings not only provide novel pharmacokinetic data for key metabolites of the H387 07 hybrid but also establish the phytochemical and antioxidant profile of its segregant H387 M16. This dual characterization strengthens the evidence of the therapeutic potential of Sechium genotypes and provides a valuable foundation for future studies aiming to develop standardized protocols and explore translational applications in drug development and natural product-based therapies.

Randia monantha, commonly known as crucetillo, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Mexico to treat conditions such as diabetes, venomous animal bites, and cancer; however, its effects on cancer cell viability remain underexplored. In this study, hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanolic extracts from the leaves and fruits of Randia monantha were phytochemically characterized and evaluated for their effects on cell viability in HeLa cervical cancer and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Phytochemical analyses revealed differences in metabolite composition across solvents of varying polarity and plant tissues. Methanolic leaf extracts contained higher levels of terpenoids and polyphenols and produced the greatest reduction in HeLa cell viability, with an estimated IC₅₀ of 4.87 µg/mL after 48 h of treatment. In contrast, DU-145 cells exhibited a different response pattern depending on the extract evaluated. Correlation analysis suggested that flavonoids were associated with reduced HeLa cell viability. Overall, leaf extracts produced greater reductions in cancer cell viability than fruit extracts, highlighting leaves as a promising but comparatively underexplored source of bioactive compounds in Randia monantha.

Enterococcus species are opportunistic pathogens frequently associated with hospital-acquired infections and biofilm formation. Hospital wastewater may act as a selective environment favoring the persistence of strains carrying virulence-associated traits. In this study, isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium obtained from hospital effluents were evaluated for biofilm formation, gelatinase activity, and the presence of virulence-associated genes. A total of 60 isolates were randomly selected from wastewater samples collected from three public hospitals in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Biofilm formation and gelatinase activity were evaluated using microtiter plate and nutrient gelatin assays. The presence of the quorum-sensing operon fsrABC and the gelatinase gene gelE was analyzed by PCR, while transcripts were detected by RT-PCR. E. faecium isolates exhibited stronger biofilm formation compared to E. faecalis, and several isolates carried both fsrABC and gelE. Although transcripts of some fsr components were not detected in E. faecium, gelatinase activity and gelE transcripts were observed in representative strains. These findings suggest that hospital wastewater may serve as a reservoir of enterococci with virulence-associated characteristics.

Oxidative stress results from an imbalance of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant mechanisms and is associated with chronic and degenerative diseases. The use of natural and artificial antioxidants is commonly prescribed to manage it. In nature, some plants synthesize specialized metabolites with significant biological activity. This applies to Bixa orellana L., which contains carotenoids and terpenes. The present study purpose to per-form a phytochemical analysis of B. orellana seeds and determine their antioxidant activity using in vitro assays. The seed extract obtained by maceration in hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated using the DPPH assay, with ascorbic acid as the reference control. A two-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's multiple comparisons test was performed. A total of 141 volatile and semi-volatile compounds were identified, mainly terpenes, esters, and fatty acids, among which geranylgeraniol (27.50%), ish-warane (11.01%), and geraniol acetate (7.76%) were the most prominent. The extract showed significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 0.5108 mg/mL-1, compared to ascorbic acid with an IC50 of 0.2266 mg/mL-1. The results indicate that the seeds of B. orellana L. possess metabolites capable of inhibiting free radicals such as DPPH.