Antileishmanial activity of amides from Piper amalago and synthetic analogs

Two natural amides isolated from the chloroform extract of Piper amalago L., Piperaceae, leaves, a hydrogenated derivative and seven synthetic analogs were tested against the promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The antileishmanial activity was evaluated in terms of growth inhibitory concentration for 50% of protozoa (IC50). The cytotoxicity toward the J774A1 macrophages was evaluated in terms of the cytotoxic concentrations for 50% of macrophages (CC50). The ability to induce nitric oxide production was also investigated for all compounds. The saturated a...