MEDICINAL FOODSTUFFS - XI - HISTAMINE-REL EASE INHIBITORS FROM WAX GOURD, THE FRUITS OF BENINCASA-HISPIDA COGN

The methanol extract of wax gourd (Japanese name ''Tougan''), the frui ts of Benincasa hispida COGN. (Cucurbitaceae), was found to show inhib itory activity on the histamine release from rat exudate cells induced by antigen-antibody reaction. Through bioassay-guided separation, fou r known triterpenes and two known sterols were isolated as active comp onents together dth a flavonoid C-glycoside, an acylated glucose, and a benzyl glycoside. Among the active triterpenes and sterols, two trit erpenes, alnusenol and multiflorenol, were found to potently inhibit t he histamine release.