New hepato-protective agents. I. Maleopimaric acid-4alpha-carboxamides

A number of amide derivatives of maleopimaric acid were synthesised and preliminary results on their protective activity against galactosamine-induced liver damage in the rat are described. The compounds (2, 6, 9 and 15) were found to display the highest level of protective activity producing significant lowering of serum GOT and GPT levels at a daily dose of 250-300 mg/kg. The LD50 of these compounds was typically in excess of 2000 mg/kg.