Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of nitric oxide-releasing derivatives of hydroxylcinnamic acids as anti-tumor agents

Novel furoxan-based nitric oxide-releasing derivatives 6a-p of hydroxylcinnamic acids were synthesized by coupling the carboxyl group of hydroxylcinnamic acids with furoxan through various alkylol amines. Compounds 6a, e-i and m-p displayed more potent anti-tumor activities superior to control 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in most cancer cells tested. Furthermore, 6f could selectively inhibit tumor cells, but not non-tumor cell proliferation. This inhibition was attributed to high levels of NO released in cancer cells and potentially synergistic effect of NO donor moieties and the bioactivity of hydroxylcinnamic acids. (C) 2013 Zhi-Qiang Zheng. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.