Synthesis of antioxidative anthraquinones as potential anticancer agents

Abstract

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of natural anthraquinones namely chrysophanol (1) and emodin (2), and synthesized anthraquinones viz. 2-methylanthraquinone (3), anthraquinone (4), 2-bromoanthraquinone (5), rubiadin (6), chrysophanol diacetate (7), rubiadin diacetate (8) and 1,8-dimethoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (9) were investigated. Anthraquinones 9, 3, 6, 5 and 2 exhibited a high DPPH• radical scavenging capacity (IC50 = <500 μg/mL) showing their therapeutic potentiality for the treatment of cancers. These anthraquinones 1-9 have also displayed a weak to moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Chrysophanol diacetate (7) including emodin (2) have been appeared as the valuable antibacterials. BIBECHANA 18 (2) (2021) 143-153