Quantum chemical studies on structure activity relationship of natural product polyacetylenes

An extract of the roots of Levisticum officinale L. (Apiaceae) exhibited significant antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium fortuitum, where diacetylene compounds were identified as the active components in this extract. In contrast, polyacetylenes isolated from different sources surprisingly exhibited no anti-mycobacterial activity. Additionally, a whole series of furanocoumarin ethers of the polyacetylene falcarindiol exhibited anti-proliferative properties. We have studied the relationship between the electronic properties and biological activity of these structurally related compounds and a good qualitative correlation between predicted lipophilic parameters and activity has been established.