Planta Med. 2001 Nov; 67(8): 722-5.

Evaluation of in vitro activity of aurones and related compounds against Cryptosporidium parvum.

Kayser O, Waters WR, Woods KM, Upton SJ, Keithly JS, Kiderlen AF.

Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Pharmazeutische Biotechnologie, Berlin, Germany. kayser@zedat.fu-berlin.de

The efficacy of a series of aurones, auronols and 4-methoxy-alpha-pyrones has been screened for the ability to inhibit the intracellular growth of the parasitic protist Cryptosporidium parvum using an in vitro enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All aurones of this series were active at 25 to 100 microM. 10 of 19 aurones inhibited the intracellular growth of C. parvum by > 90 % with moderate to no toxicity. The most active of these was 3',4',6-trihydroxy-2-[phenylmethylene]-3(2H)-benzofuranone.