Synthesis and biological evaluation of nitric oxide-releasing matrine derivatives as anticancer agents

A series of furoxan-based nitric oxide-releasing matrine derivatives (10a-f) were synthesized. The biological evaluation showed that compounds 10a, 10b, 10e and 10f had stronger cytotoxic activities than 5-fluorouracil against human hepatoma cells (HepG2) in vitro. (C) 2009 Yi Hua Zhang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.