Evaluation of Chemoprotective Potential of Synthetic Flavones

The widespread distribution of flavonoids, their diversity and their relatively low toxicity as compared to other chemical class of compounds, have gained the attention of synthetic chemists. Flavones have a variety of biological activities such as anti-allergic, antiestrogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. Many diets are loaded in these flavones and are daily consumed. Twenty five flavones were synthesized from chalcones on the laboratory scale. The oxidative cyclization of chalcones to flavones was carried out by Claisen Schmidt condensation reaction by conventional as well as microwave irradiation method. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines. The technique for the synthesis of novel flavones was established with mild to moderate anticancer activity for MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines.