Justicidone, a C-5, C-8 dioxo-lignan of the arylnaphthalene type isolated from Justicia hyssopifolia, and its synthetic precursors were tested for the activity against Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes in vitro. Justicidone showed activity against L. braziliensis with an IC50 of 181.90 μM, while, the diasteromeric mixture of one of its synthetic precursors exhibited activity against both parasite strains with an IC50 of 99.27 μM (L. braziliensis) and 181.75 μM (L. amazonensis). This activity has not previously been reported for dibenzylbutyrolactones and dioxo-lignans.
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