Anti-piroplasma activity of 2-methylbutane galloyl glycosides from Saxifraga spinulosa

Abstract Five new galloyl glucosides of 2-C-methyl-D-erythriol (1–4) and homogentisic acid (5) were isolated from the aerial parts of Saxifraga spinulosa. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The absolute configuration was determined using alkaline hydrolysis on their ester bond. The parasitic growth inhibitory activities were evaluated against Babesia bigemina, B. bovis, B. caballi, and Theileria equi, which cause protozoan diseases of livestock, and the results indicated that the presence of the galloyl moiety is important and aglycone moieties also affect the activities.