Cucurbitacin IIb (CuIIb, Dihydrocucurbitacin F, 25-deacetyl hemslecin A) inhibits phosphorylation of STAT3, JNK and Erk1/2, enhances the phosphorylation of IκB and NF-κB, blocks nuclear translocation of NF-κB and decreases mRNA levels of IκBα and TNF-α. Cucurbitacin IIb exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and induces apoptosis. Cucurbitacin IIb is isolated from Hemsleya amabilis.