Synthesis of a novel ester of hydroxytyrosol and alpha-lipoic acid exhibiting an antiproliferative effect on human colon cancer HT-29 cells

A novel ester of hydroxytyrosol and alpha-lipoic acid was synthesized in satisfactory yield by original and simple procedures and evaluated about its antiproliferative activity on the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cell line. The compound exhibited a cell growth inhibitory activity significantly more potent than the corresponding parent natural compounds, very likely due to the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. These data suggest that the novel ester might exert a more effective antitumour activity than hydroxytyrosol and alpha-lipoic acid. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.