MOLLUSCICIDAL CONSTITUENTS OF CALOPHYLLUM FROM MADAGASCAR - ACTIVITY OF SOME NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC NEOFLAVONOIDS AND KHELLACTONES

Crude extracts of seeds, leaves and barks of four Madagascan Calophyll um species: C. inophyllum, C. recedens, C. chapelieri, and C. verticil latum, have been tested for molluscicidal activity against Biomphalari a glabrata. All seed extracts showed significant activity. The major c onstituents of the most active Calophyllum species were examinated. So me related coumarinic derivatives were synthesized in order to improve the biological activity. Among the compounds prepared, 5,7-dihydroxy- 6-(2-methylbutyryl)-4-phenylcoumarin presented an interesting mollusci cidal activity.