Synthesis, antiinflammatory and anticancer activity of cinnamic acids, their derivatives and analogues

Cinnamic acids were selected as lead compounds of antiinflammatory and anticancer agents through the investigation of their biological properties. Their esters and related styryl ketones were also studied. A total of nineteen compounds, fifteen of them not reported previously, were synthesized and found to be of considerable pharmacological interest. In preliminary biological tests, compounds IA, IB, IC, II2C and II5C showed significant inhibiting effect on croton oil induced mouse ear edema, IB, II5A, II5C and IIID exhibited good activity on HL-60 human cancer cells in vitro. It is well worth noticing that compounds IB and II5C exhibited excellent antiinflammatory action as well as anticancer activity.