THE EFFECTS OF BISTRAMIDES ON RODENT MALARIA

Bistramide D and K were extracted from a New Caledonian marine colonia l ascidian Lissoclinum bistratum and tested against Plasmodium berghei and P. vinckei petteri in mice. Bistramide D was able to reduce paras itaemia by almost 50% in P. berghei infected mice, but the ID50 (>5 mg /kg) was very close to the LD50 (8 mg/kg). In the same assay, bistrami de K was less active than bistramide D. The mid-term trophozoite and t he old trophozoite were shown to be the stages most sensitive to bistr amide D in P. vinckei petteri infected mice. Therefore, bistramides ar e interesting experimental tools but do not present a major interest a s potential antimalarial drugs.