Discovery of novel sophocarpine derivatives as potential dual Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 inhibitors: design, synthesis and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma evaluation

Key Points

• Novel sophocarpine derivatives effectively inhibit bcl-2 and mcl-1, showcasing potential as anti-cancer agents.
• In vitro testing revealed inhibition efficacy of several derivatives against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
• Design and synthesis approaches focused on optimizing the molecular structure for enhanced inhibition activity.
• These findings indicate a promising path for developing novel treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma, but further evaluation in clinical settings is needed.