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Planta Med 2001; 67(7): 647-653
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17349
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

New Sesquiterpene Lactones from Elephantopus mollis and Their Leishmanicidal Activities

Hiroyuki Fuchino1* , Tatsuo Koide2 , Marii Takahashi1 , Setsuko Sekita1 , Motoyoshi Satake1
  • 1 National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2 National Institute of Health Sciences, Osaka branch, Osaka, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

September 1, 2000

December 15, 2000

Publication Date:
24 September 2001 (online)

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Abstract

The leishmanicidal compounds isolated from whole plants of Elephantopus mollis H.B.K. were identified as follows. Three new sesquiterpenoid lactones, 2,5-epoxy-2β-hydroxy-8α-(2-methylpropenoyloxy)-4(15),10(14),11(13)-germacratrien-12,6α-olide, (4βH)-8α-(2-methylpropenoyloxy)-2-oxo-1(5),10(14), 11(13)-guaiatrien-12,6α-olide and (4βH)-5α-hydroxy-8α-(2-methylpropenoyloxy)-1(10),11(13)-guaiadiene-12,6α-olide, were isolated from Peruvian and Brazilian collections together with four known sesquiterpenoids, molephantin, elephantopin, isoelephantopin and 2-deethoxy-2β-methoxyphantomolin. They exhibited potent in vitro leishmanicidal activities against Leishmania major. The α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone moiety was found to be essential to the potent leishmanicidal effect observed.

Key words

Sesquiterpenes - Elephantopus mollis - Compositae - leishmaniasis - Leishmania major

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