Primin has antimycobacterial, and strong antineoplastic actions. Primin has potent activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (IC50 0.144 microM) and Leishmania donovani (IC50 0.711 microM), and low cytotoxicity (IC50 15.4 microM) on mammalian cells; it could serve as a lead compound for the rational design of more potent and less toxic antiprotozoal agents. Primin is a 1,4-benzoquinone having a methoxy substituent at the 2-position and a pentyl substituent at the 6-position. It has a role as an antifeedant, a metabolite, an antimicrobial agent, an allergen and a hapten.