Chemical and biological characterization of four new linear cationic α-helical peptides from the venoms of two solitary eumenine wasps

► Four novel peptides were isolated from the venoms of the solitary eumenine wasps. ► The sequences have the characteristic features of linear cationic α-helical peptides. ► All the peptides exhibited antimicrobial, mast cell degranulation and leishmanicidal activities, but virtually no hemolytic activity.