Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Naringenin Derivatives as Anticancer Agents

Background: In the present study, a series of substituted naringenin derivatives was synthesized by Claisen–Schmidt reaction using grinding technique. Methods: Synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), Mass Spectroscopy (MS) and elemental analysis. These derivatives were screened for anticancer activity on breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29) cell lines using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assay. Results: Results displayed improved inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of naringenin derivatives. IC50 values of 3(4-chlorobenzylidene)-5,7-dihydroxy-2(4-hydroxyphenyl)chroman-4-one are 10.35 μM (MCF-7) & 12.03 μM (HT-29), which is most potent compound in the series. These finding confirms the suitability of 3-substituted naringenin in improving the anticancer effect. Conclusion: Due to the intense interest in the development of drugs capable of inhibiting cancerous cells, naringenin derivatives may represent important precursor molecules for the therapeutic armamentarium of colon and breast cancer. Further structural modification in these structures will be of interest and may result in compounds having a better anticancer activity.