Antiplasmodial hirsutinolides from Vernonia staehelinoides and their utilization towards a simplified pharmacophore

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Vernonia staehelinoides led to the isolation of two structurally-related hirsutinolides, displaying in vitro antiplasmodial activity. The compounds lacked selectivity (cytotoxicity vs. bioactivity) but the results led to the identification of mucochloric and mucobromic acids as privileged 2(5H)-furanone substructures.