Abstract

Sridhar B. T.*, Kumara M. N., Padma T., Thimmaiah K. N., and Houghton P. J.

ABSTRACT

Derivatives of phenoxazines namely N10-pentylsubstituted-2-chloro phenoxazines, N10-hexylsubstituted-2-chloro phenoxazines and N10-hexylsubstituted phenoxazines were synthesized in an effort to find more specific and less toxic anti-cancer agents. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, UV, IR, 1H, 13C-NMR and mass spectral data. The anti-proliferative property of these compounds increased significantly by increasing the chain length to (-CH2)5 or (-CH2)6 from the corresponding (-CH2)3 or (-CH2)4 at N10-position of the phenoxazine ring. The anti proliferative activity of various phenoxazine derivatives against rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines follows the order: N10-hexyl > N10-pentyl > N10-butyl > N10-propyl. Within the series, -Cl in C-2 position on the phenoxazine ring demonstrated a higher potency compared to phenoxazines with –H in C-2 position, suggesting that chlorine is playing a critical role on the growth inhibition.