Structure, absolute configuration, and antidiarrheal activity of a thymol derivative from Ageratina cylindrica.

The leaves of Ageratina cylindrica afforded a thymol derivative that was characterized by physical and spectroscopical methods as (8S)-8,9-epoxy-6-hydroxy-l0-benzoyloxy-7-oxothymol isobutyrate (1). The absolute configuration of 1 was established as 8S by vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations and by evaluation of the Flack and Hooft X-ray parameters. Compound 1 showed weak antiprotozoal activity against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia trophozoites and a high inhibitory effect on hyperpropulsive movement of the small intestine in rats.