Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of tangeretin-derived chalcones

A series of Chalcones polyoxygenated on the ring A (with pentamethoxy or 2'-hydroxy-3',4',5',6'-tetramethoxy substitution patterns) was synthesized from tangeretin, a natural Citrus flavonoid. These Chalcones were evaluated for their antiproliferative, activation of Apoptosis, inhibition of tubulin assembly and antileishmanial activities. Comparison with the reference analogous 3',4',5'-trimethoxylated Chalcones showed that such peroxygenated substitution patterns on the ring A were less beneficial to these activities.