Structure and synthesis of antimalarial compound, febrifugine

Malaria is the world's most important tropical parasitic disease and there are an estimated 300-500 million cases of malaria each year. The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of the parasite is exacerbating the situati on. Febrifugine, which was isolated from Dichroa febrifuga and Hydrangea um bellata along with isofebrifugine, is a well-known candidate of antimalaria l agent. The plane structure of febrifugine and isofebrifugine was first pr oposed in 1950. Subsequently, their relative and absolute structures were p roposed, based on Baker's synthetic work. The relative configuration of feb rifugine was corrected in 1973 and then the absolute structures of febrifug ine and isofebrifugine were corrected in 1999. These repeated errors and co rrections have caused much confusion in the study of the relationship betwe en the structure and antimalarial activity of febrifugine derivatives. Howe ver, investigation of the antimalarial activity of febrifugine derivatives is beginning anew, since it was reported that febrifugine had higher activi ty than clinically used antimalarial drugs, and a derivative more potent th an febrifugine was found.