Synthesis and biological evaluation of indolyl chalcones as antitumor agents.

ABSTRACT

A series of indolyl chalcones were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines. Compounds 3b-d, 3h, 3j, 3l, 3m, 4g, and 4j showed significant cytotoxicity, particularly, indolyl chalcones 3l and 3m were identified as the most potent and selective anticancer agents with IC(50) values 0.03 and 0.09 microM, against PaCa-2 cell line, respectively.