In many tropical areas, infections by Leishmania species are endemic and include visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which is often fatal if untreated. Outside India, VL treatment and control are based on long-term administration of highly toxic pentavalent antimonials. Previously, we described the synthesis and in vitro leishmanicidal activity of a series of nine benzophenone derivatives with low toxicity towards murine macrophages. Here in, we report the in vivo evaluation of the most promising active compounds of that series in an experimental model of established VL by L. (L). infantum chagasi in hamsters. Importantly, parasite DNA (amastigote form) quantification in infected tissues was performed by real time PCR, for improved detection accuracy and speed. Compounds 2-Hydroxy-4-O-(3,3-dimethyl)-allylbenzophenone (LFQM-117 (1)), 4-O-(3,3-Dimethyl)-allylbenzophenone (LFQM-120 (2)) and 4,4′-Di-methoxybenzophenone (LFQM-121 (3)) were administered as oral suspensions (50 mg/kg/day)