title: Antimalarial activity of sesquiterpenes from the marine sponge Acanthella klethra.
abstract: Five sesquiterpenoids containing isonitrile or isothiocyanate groups were isolated from the sponge Acanthella klethra. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as axisonitrile 3 and the corresponding isothiocyanate derivative, respectively. Compounds 3-5 were found to be eudesmane sesquiterpenes. None of these compounds was cytotoxic toward cultured KB-3 cells, but varying degrees of activity were observed with cultured Plasmodium falciparum. Compound 1 demonstrated greatest promise as an antimalarial agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Angerhofer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pezzuto
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sticher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D012717:Sesquiterpenes