Sesquiterpene lactones of higher plants as a possible source of new antiprotozoal drugs.

Abstract

Of 82 sesquiterpene lactones (obtained from higher plants) tested, only stizolin [34175-72-9], repin [11024-67-2], acroptilin [41787-75-1], hyrcanin [37006-36-3], saupirin [35932-39-9], britanin [33627-28-0], telekin [6752-90-5], alantolactone [546-43-0], isoalantolactone [470-17-7], and haillardin [14682-46-3] showed strong protozoacidal activity in vitro (active at 0.24-7.8 μg/ml) against Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis. The presence of an exocyclic methylene ring in conjugation with the lactone carbonyl, the presence of an acetyl group on the ring, or oxidn. of a hydroxyl group to a keto group generally increased the protozoacidal activity of the sesquiterpenes. [on SciFinder(R)]