Last Updated: 05/05/2026

Discovery of anti-malarial lead compounds in Xisha sponge and soft coral

Objectives

This project aims to discover new anti-malarial compounds from the Xisha sponge and soft coral, specifically Acanthella cavernosa and Sinularia sp., which exhibit significant activity against Plasmodium falciparum.

Principal Investigators / Focal Persons

Ying Xu

Rationale and Abstract

Malaria is one of the ancient and neglected parasitic infectious diseases. Since failure to control malaria is the emergence and spread of resistance to first-line antimalarial drugs, finding new and efficient antimalaria leading compounds is the primary work for treatment of malaria. The extract of Acanthella cavernosa and Sinularia sp. showed significant antimalaria activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The isolation of kalihinenes and cembranes was by bioassay, UV and NMR guided, single crystal X-ray diffraction, CD spectrum and DFT or TD-DFT were used to determine the absolute structures. The structure activity relationship was investigated to find one or more antimalaria leading compounds.

Date

Jan 2015 — Dec 2017

Total Project Funding

$39,777

Funding Details
Country / Project Site(s)

China

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