Effect of natural and synthetic benzyl benzoates on calmodulin

The effect of the spasmolytic benzylbenzoates 1-9 from Brickellia veronicifolia on the system CaM-PDE1 was analyzed. The most active natural inhibitors were 3-5. Three series of analogs (10a-32a) of compound 4 were prepared and assayed. The most active compounds were 14a, 15a and 30a. Kinetic studies revealed that these compounds are competitive CaM antagonists.