Synthesis of quinolinyl chalcones and evaluation of their antimalarial activity.

Quinolinyl chalcones were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibition of the Plasmodium falciparum cystein protease falcipain and their activity against cultured P. falciparum parasites. They were also tested for in vivo efficacy in a rodent P. berghei model. Their activity against falcipain and as antimalarials was moderate, but antimalarial activity was probably not due to the inhibition of falcipain and may follow a different mechanism. 1-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-3-[3-(2-chloro-6,7-dimethoxiquinolinyl)]-2-propen-1-one 3j was the most promising compound among those here reported (IC50 19.0 microM).