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Arzneimittelforschung 2012; 62(08): 389-394
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314868
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Novel 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indole Derivatives

M. Koksal
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Kayisdagi, Istanbul, Turkey
,
M. Yarim
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Kayisdagi, Istanbul, Turkey
,
I. Durmaz
2   Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
,
R. Cetin-Atalay
2   Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 16 March 2012

accepted 22 May 2012

Publication Date:
29 June 2012 (online)

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Abstract

A series of novel 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indoles (3a–l) were synthesized and their cytotoxicities were analyzed against 3 different human cell lines, including liver (HUH7), breast (MCF7) and colon (HCT116). The Mannich reaction of 3-methylindole (1) with 4-substitutedpiperazines (2) and formaldehyde resulted to the 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indoles (3a–l) in 38–69% yields. The investigation of anticancer screening revealed that the tested compounds showed comparable activity to the reference drug 5-fluorouracil and compounds 3g, 3h, 3i and 3k, had lower 50% inhibition (IC50) concentration than reference drug. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of the most potent compound 3h on HUH7 and MCF7 cells through apoptosis was visualized by Hoechst staining and compared with paclitaxel, which is a mitotic inhibitor acting on microtubules. The morphological features of apoptosis were observed as condensed and fragmented nuclei that are similar to paclitaxel.

Key words

anticancer - apoptosis - indole - Mannich base - 1,4-disubstitutedpiperazines
 

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