In vitro leishmanicidal activity of some scarce natural products

Leishmanicidal activity of 46 natural products including several fern and Betula constituents was examined. Several pterosin and atisene compounds from ferns had high activity. Among the triterpenoids the carboxyl group was found to be important for activity. In the diarytheptanoids, the linear-type and the diphenylethertype showed significant activity, and it was found that the carbonyl group at C-11 is necessary for the activity of biphenyl-types. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.