New sesquiterpene hydroperoxides with trypanocidal activity from Pogostemon cablin.

Trypanocidal constituents of Pogostemon cablin were investigated. Activity guided isolation of the acetone extract resulted in isolation of three new sesquiterpene hydroperoxides 1-3, together with a known sesquiterpene, patchouli alcohol (4). In vitro minimum lethal concentrations of the hydroperoxides 1-3 against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were 0.84 microM (1), 1.7 microM (2) and 1.7 microM (3). The activity of the corresponding alcohols and patchouli alcohol was very weak (MLC>200 microM).