Antifilarial activity of some 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones (coumarins)

Six synthetic 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (cournarin) derivatives (CDRI compounds # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were evaluated for filaricidal activity against Lit omosoides carinii and Acanthocheilonema viteae infections in cotton rats (S igmodon hispidus) and Mastomys coucha respectively. Significant effects on macrofilariae (> 80% death/sterilisation) were detected with compounds # 2, 3 and 6 against L. carinii and/or A. viteae. Thus detection of filaricidal activity in benzopyrones, which are so far known for anti-inflammatory act ivity, provides a new lead for development of better filaricidal agents for combating filariasis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.