SYNTHESIS AND IN-VITRO CYTOTOXICITY OF CINNAMALDEHYDES TO HUMAN SOLIDTUMOR-CELLS

Cinnamaldehydes and related compounds were synthesized from various ci nnamic acids based on the 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde isolated from the b ark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. The cytotoxicity to human solid tumor cells such as A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498 and HCT15 were measured. Cinnamic acid, cinnamates and cinnamyl alcohols did not show any cytot oxicity against the human tumor cells. Cinnamaldehydes and realted com pounds were resistant to A549 cell line up to 15 mu g/ml. In contrast, HCT15 and SK-MEL-2 cells were much sensitive to these cinnamaldehyde analogues which showed ED50 values 0.63 similar to 8.1 mu g/ml. Cytoto xicity of the saturated aldehydes was much weak compared to their unsa turated aldehydes. From these studies, it was found that the key funct ional group of the cinnamaldehyde-related compounds in the antitumor a ctivity is the propenal group.