The biological activity of cyclic bis(bibenzyls): a rational approach

The biological activities reported for marchantin A (1), a natural cyclic bis(bibenzyl), were studied in comparison with cepharanthine (2), a therapeutically useful bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid. Based on the examination of steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic similarity, as well as on the comparison of biological activities, the similar therapeutic properties of 1 and 2 can be attributed to binding on a common receptor. The wide range of activity of 1 can be interpreted by a mechanism of action based on a calcium binding.