Revista:Medicinal Abstract Several cinnamic acid esters were obtained via Fischer esterification of cinnamic acids derivatives with aliphatic alcohols. Cinnamic acids derivatives were synthesized via Knoevenagel reaction between substituted benzaldehydes and malonic acid in aqueous medium assisted by microwave heating. Structures of the products were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for antileishmanial activity against L. panamensis amastigotes and cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells. The compounds 6, 10-12 and 18, were active against Leishmania parasite but toxic for mammalian cells. They are potential candidates for antileishmanial drug development.