2. Academic Validation
  3. The chemistry and biology of febrifugine and halofuginone

The chemistry and biology of febrifugine and halofuginone

  • Bioorg Med Chem. 2014 Apr 1;22(7):1993-2004. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.02.040.
Noel P McLaughlin 1,  Paul Evans 2,  Mark Pines 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
  • 2 Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Institute of Animal Science, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 24650700 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.02.040
Abstract

The trans-2,3-disubstituted piperidine, quinazolinone-containing natural product febrifugine (also known as dichroine B) and its synthetic analogue, halofuginone, possess antimalarial activity. More recently studies have also shown that halofuginone acts as an agent capable of reducing fibrosis, an indication with clinical relevance for several disease states. This review summarizes historical isolation studies and the chemistry performed which culminated in the correct structural elucidation of naturally occurring febrifugine and its isomer isofebrifugine. It also includes the range of febrifugine analogues prepared for antimalarial evaluation, including halofuginone. Finally, a section detailing current opinion in the field of halofuginone's human biology is included.

Keywords

3-Hydroxypiperidine; Antimalarial; Fibrosis; Isomerization; Natural product; Quinazolinone.

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