Background: 4-Aryl-4H-chromenes are novel anticancer agents which induce apoptosis in cancer cells. These compounds were found to induce apoptosis by targeting the tubulin/microtubule system in cell proliferation process. The aim of this study was to report cyototoxic and apoptosis inducing activities of a new series of synthesized 4-aryl-4H-chromenes compounds. Methods: The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized 4-aryl-4H-chromenes was investigated against a paned of human cancer cell lines including MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma), HEPG-2 (liver carcinoma), SW-480 (colon adenocarcinoma), U87-MG (glioblastoma), 1321N1 (astrocytoma), and DAOY (medulloblastoma). The percentage of growth inhibitory activity was evaluated using MTT colorimetric assay versus controls not treated with test derivatives. The data for etoposide, a well known anticancer drug, was included for comparison. For each compound, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) were determined. Apoptosis inducing activity were assessed by DAPI staining. Results: Preliminary screening showed that those chromenes analogs bearing phenyl-isoxazole-3-yl substitution or the derivatives containing methoxyphenyl in chromene ring exhibited cytotoxic and apoptotic inducing activity comparable with or even superior than the reference drug, etoposide. The compounds without this type of substitution have lower activity. Conclusions: Replacement of 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl group with thiazol ring in the synthesized derivatives reduced the cytotoxic activity. However, the derivatives with phenyl-isoxazole analogue showed potent cytotoxic and apoptotic inducing activity.

Keywords: 4-aryl-4H-chromenes, cyototoxic activity, apoptosis

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