New and known symmetrical curcumin derivatives inhibit the formation of Fos-Jun-DNA complex

We previously reported that curcumin, the yellow pigment of turmeric, inhibited the formation of the Fos-Jun-DNA complex. Thus, we have synthesized 12 symmetrical curcuminoids. We used a slightly modified version of Pabon's method to search for an inhibitor more potent than curcumin. Of the synthesized curcuminoids, BJC005, CHCO11, and CHC007 exhibited a remarkably high inhibitory activity. Their IC50 values are 5.4 muM, 0.30 mM, and 0.38 mM, respectively. These IC50 data indicated that BJC005 is nearly 90 times more effective than curcumin. The BJC005 has shown a more powerful profile than momordin, which, until now, has been reported as a potent Fos-Jun inhibitor. Also BJC005 and CHC007 have not been synthesized before. We report for the first time that the novel BJC005 and CHC007 exhibit highly inhibitory activity against transcription activity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.