Synthesis and in-vitro cytotoxic activity of novel benzo[b]phenazine-6,ll-Dione and 1,4-Naphthoquinone derivatives

5, 12 - Dihydrobenzophenazine-6, 11-diones, 2-Arylamino-3-chloro-l, 4-naphthoquinones and 6, ll-dihydrobenzo[b]phenazine-6, 11-diones, were synthesized from 2, 3-dichloro-l, 4-naphthoquinone and arylamines/ phenylenediamines. Studying the cytotoxicity using EAC and human cell lines revealed that 5, 12-dihydrobemo[b]phenazine-6, ll-dione [3] and 3-chloro-2-[2- pyridylamino]-l, 4-naphthoquinone [10] showed selective cytotoxicity against the human lung carcinoma cell line [H460] superior to doxorubicin. Compound 3 [16.25 uM] was 1.3 times higher than that of doxoruhicin. However, 1C50 value of compound 10 was 9.90 uM which was 2 times higher than that [20.10 uM] of doxorubicin. These compounds were inactive against liver carcinoma [HEPG2], brain tumor [U251], cervix carcinoma [HELA] and breast carcinoma [MCF7] cell lines