Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Curcuminoid Derivatives

Curcuminoids have been reported to possess multiple bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Three novel series of curcuminoid derivatives (11a–h, 15a–h and 19a–d) with enhanced bioactivity have been synthesized. Among the synthesized compounds, 11b exhibited the most significant activity with an MIC of 0.5 µM /mL against selected medically important Gram-positive cocci (S. aureus and S. viridans) and Gram-negative bacilli (E. coli and E. cloacae). The derivatives exhibited remarkable results in an antioxidant test with an IC(50) 2.4- to 9.3-folder smaller than curcuminoids. With respect to antiproliferative activity against Hep-G2, LX-2, SMMC7221 and MDA-MB-231, the derivatives exhibited an effect stronger than curcuminoids with an IC(50) ranging from 0.18 to 4.25 µM.