Synthesis and anti-cancer activities of apigenin derivatives.

A novel series of apigenin derivatives with phloroglucinol or resorcinol as raw materials were synthesized according to Baker-Venaktaraman reaction and their in vitro inhibitory activities on colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and leucocythemia (HL-60) cell lines were evaluated by the standard methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) method. The results of biological test showed that some of apigenin derivatives possessed stronger anti-cancer activities than apigenin. Compound 6 showed the strongest activity against colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and leucocythemia (HL-60) cell lines with IC50 valure of 2.03±0.22 µM, 2.25±0.42 µM, it was better than 5-FU (12.92±0.61 µM, 9.56±0.16 µM), which shows a potential compound for colorectal adenocarcinoma and leucocythemia.