Design and preparation of aza-analogues of benzo[c]phenanthridine framework with cytotoxic and antiplasmodial activities

Abstract

Benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids represent interesting lead for the discovery of new potential antiplasmodial and/or anticancer drugs. In this field, a novel library of aza-analogs of benzo[c]phenanthroline framework derivatives was designed and prepared. Although these compounds did not have specific antiplasmodial activities, some of them displayed specific in vitro activity against two cancer lines especially compound 24 with an IC 50 against the MCF7 line of 0.6 μM.