Synthesis, structural characterization and biological evaluation of novel stilbene derivatives as potential antimalarial agents.

A series of benzamide-containing stilbene derivatives was synthesized through the incorporation of short basic side-chains in the B-ring hydroxy position of resveratrol. Their antiplasmodial activity was evaluated in vitro against the chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum D10 strain, showing IC(50) values between 1.5 and 80 microM, while their cytotoxicity was assessed using an human myeloid leukemia (U-937) cell line. With a selectivity ratio of > 51.02, the most selective of these derivatives, 29, also had the most lowest cytotoxic activity of the series.