Cinnamic acid derivatives as anticancer agents-a review

Area of Science:

• Medicinal Chemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Cinnamic acid and its phenolic analogues are natural compounds with diverse chemical reactivity.
• These compounds have a long history in medicinal research, with early clinical use noted in 1905.
• Despite their potential, cinnamic acid derivatives' anticancer applications have been historically underutilized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive literature review on the synthesis and biological evaluation of cinnamic acid derivatives.
• To highlight the recent surge in research interest regarding the antitumor efficacy of cinnamoyl derivatives.
• To consolidate information on various cinnamoyl derivatives, including acids, esters, amides, and hydrazides, for anticancer research.

Main Methods:

• Literature compilation and review.
• Analysis of synthetic routes for cinnamic acid derivatives.
• Evaluation of biological data on anticancer activities.

Main Results:

• Cinnamic acid derivatives possess multiple reactive sites, enabling diverse chemical modifications.
• Significant research attention has focused on cinnamoyl derivatives and their antitumor effects in the last two decades.
• The review compiles extensive data on the synthesis and anticancer evaluation of a wide range of derivatives.

Conclusions:

• Cinnamic acid derivatives represent a promising class of compounds for anticancer drug development.
• This review offers a timely and valuable resource for researchers in medicinal chemistry and oncology.
• Further exploration of these derivatives is warranted to fully realize their therapeutic potential.