Abstract
Gentianine (A) and 3–hydroxymethyl–4–hydroxyethyl–5–vinylpyridine (B) showed no activity against P. berghei in mice and E. invadens maintained in a monophasic medium. The minimum lethal dose of gentianine in mice given intraperitoneally was found to be 400 mg/kg. The toxicity of A was considerably lowered when the lactone ring in the compound was opened. The resulting compound B was not toxic even at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg.
