What is "febrifugine"

n. (context organic compound English) A quinazolinone alkaloid with antimalarial properties.

Febrifugine is a quinazolinone alkaloid first isolated from the Chinese herb Dichroa febrifuga, but also found in the garden plant Hydrangea. Laboratory synthesis of febrifugine determined that the originally reported stereochemistry was incorrect.

Febrifugine has antimalarial properties and the halogenated derivative halofuginone is used in veterinary medicine as a coccidiostat. Halofuginone is specifically shown to be an effective drug in malaria, cancer, fibrosis and inflammatory disease.