Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one and its aminomethyl derivatives

Aminomethyl derivatives of 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one, designed as new cytotoxins, were synthesized and evaluated in terms of their cytotoxic activities. The compounds have low CC50 values in the low micromolar range against HL-60 neoplasms and HSC-2, HSC-3 and HSC-4 carcinoma cells. In general, the average CC50 values of these compounds were higher towards HGF, HPC and HPLF non-malignant cells, which reveals the tumour-selectivity of these aminomethyl derivatives, Mannich bases. Using specific concentrations of compounds 4 and 6 caused cleavage of PARP1 in HSC-2 cells but not HGF cells, which may be a contributing factor to cytotoxicities and the tumour-selectivities.