Synthesis and antiproliferative and c-Src kinase inhibitory activities of cinnamoyl- and pyranochromen-2-one derivatives

A series of 6-and 8-cinnamoylchromen-2-one and dihydropyranochromen-2-one derivatives were synthesized and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated against three human cancer cell lines, i.e., ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3), leukemia (CCRF-CEM), and breast carcinoma (MCF-7). In general, 8-cinnamoylchromen-2-one derivatives were found to have higher antiproliferative activity against the cancer cells when compared with 6-cinnamoyl analogues. Among all of the hybrid chromen-2-one - chalcone/flavanone compounds, a 7-hydroxy-8-cinnamoylchromen-2-one derivative 35 was found to be consistently active against all the cancer cell lines and inhibited the cell proliferation of SK-OV-3, CCRF-CEM, and MCF-7 by 63%, 50%, and 43%, respectively, at a concentration of 50 mu mol/L after 72 h of incubation. This compound also exhibited the highest Src kinase inhibition (IC50 = 14.5 mu mol/L). Structure-activity relationship studies provided insights for designing the next generation of chromen-2-one -chalcone hybrid prototypes and the development of new leads as anticancer agents and (or) Src kinase inhibitors.