Synthesis and Anti-Plasmodial Activity of 8β, 13β-Dihydroxypodocarpane Derivatives

8β,13β-Dihydroxypodocarpane and eight C-13 substituted derivatives were prepared from the precursor 8β-hydroxy-13-podocarpanone synthesised from the naturally occurring diterpene (+)-manool. The synthetic compounds exhibited a range of anti-plasmodial activities (IC501–29 μM) and only induced minimal haemolysis of erythrocytes at concentrations 50 and 100 μM. No changes in the morphology of erythrocytes were detected at sub-haemolytic concentrations.