ABSTRACT
A series of forty-seven quinoxaline derivatives, 2-(XYZC6H2CHN-NH)-quinoxalines, 1, have been synthesized and evaluated for their activity against four cancer cell lines: potent cytotoxicities were found (IC50 ranging from 0.316 to 15.749 µM). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that the number, the positions and the type of substituents attached to the aromatic ring are critical for biological activity. The activities do not depend on the electronic effects of the substituents nor on the lypophilicities of the molecules. A common feature of active compounds is an ortho-hydroxy group in the phenyl ring. A potential role of these ortho-hydroxy derivatives is as N,N,O-tridentate ligands complexing with a vital metal, such as iron, and thereby preventing proliferation of cells. The most active compound was (1: X,Y=2,3-(OH)2, Z=H), which displayed a potent cytotoxicity comparable to that of the reference drug doxorubicin.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Drug Design , Quinoxalines/chemical synthesis , Quinoxalines/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Coordination Complexes/chemistry , Doxorubicin/chemistry , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , Humans , Hydrogen Bonding , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Iron/chemistry , Ligands , Quinoxalines/chemistry , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
A series of 23 racemic mefloquine-oxazolidine derivatives, 4-[3-(aryl)hexahydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,4-a]pyridin-1-yl]-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolines, derived from (R*, S*)-(±)-mefloquine and arenealdehydes, have been evaluated for their activity against four cancer cell lines (HCT-8, OVCAR-8, HL-60, and SF-295). Good cytotoxicities have been determined with IC50 values ranging from 0.59 to 4.79 µg/mL. In general compounds with aryl groups having strong electron-releasing substituents, such as HO and MeO, or electron-rich heteroaryl groups, for example imidazol-2-y-l, are active. However, other factors such as steric effects may play a role. As both the active and non-active conformations of the mefloquine-oxazolidine derivatives are similar, it is concluded that molecular conformations do not play a significant role either. This study is the first to evaluate mefloquine derivatives as antitumor agents. The mefloquine-oxazolidine derivatives are considered to be useful leads for the rational design of new antitumor agents.
