Pentalinonsterol

Pentalinonsterol is a steroid that was recently isolated from the Mexican and Central American pentalinon plant (Pentalinon spp.). Its structure is sort of an oxidized version of cholesterol.

Mayan healers in the Mexican state of Campeche used pentalinon roots to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis. Curious about the ingredient in the roots that cleared up the skin sores, Abhay R. Satoskar and co-workers at Ohio State University (Columbus) extracted 20 compounds from the roots and tested them against the disease. They found a “hit” in pentalinonsterol.

To obtain enough pentalinonsterol for determining whether it is a drug candidate, root extraction is not the answer. Instead, the researchers synthesized the compound from the hormone pregnenolone in five steps.

When Satoskar et al. treated mice with pentalinonsterol, they found that it is potent against visceral leishmaniasis. This disease, caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani, is difficult to treat; many current drugs have toxic side effects, and the parasite has become resistant to many others. Satoskar’s group is now working to formulate pentalinonsterol and to identify its molecular target.