We have evaluated the leishmanicidal activity of some natural and semisynthetic dihydrostilbenoids and several compounds of other series of dihydrostilbamides, isoindoles, phthalazinones, imidazoisoindoles and pyrimidoisoindoles. The evaluation was performed in vitro, on cultures of cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral strains of Leishmania spp. The most potent and selective compounds of these series were the dihydrostilbene piperidides.