Anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of aminoalcohol-based quinoxaline small molecules.

Purpose: Bioactive molecules are relevant to fight cancer and associated conditions. Quinoxaline is a privileged N-heterocycle, notably as anticancer agents. Herein, we report the evaluation of the quinoxaline derivatives DEQX and OAQX as anticancer agents, as well as in function of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.

Methods: Quinoxalines were synthesized and tested as anticancer agents based on cell viability and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated from mouse carrageenan peritonitis and levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hot-plate and acetic acid-induced writing test were employed to investigate analgesia.

Results: Both reduced the Ht-29 cell viability in a dependent-concentration manner (p < 0.001). Total apoptosis was detected for cells treated with 12.5 and 25 µg/mL of both the compounds for 24 and 48 h (all doses, p < 0.0001). DEQX (all doses, p < 0.01) and OAQX (all doses, p < 0.001) acted in leukocyte migration and decreased the IL-1β and TNF-β levels (p < 0.05). DEQX (all doses, p < 0.05) and OAQX (5mg/kg, p < 0.001) showed peripheral analgesic effect.

Conclusions: In-vitro and in-vivo results suggest that these quinoxalines are promising for application in pharmacological area due to their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and peripheric analgesia.