E-Combretastatin and E-resveratrol structural modifications: Antimicrobial and cancer cell growth inhibitory β-E-nitrostyrenes

As part of a broad-based SAR investigation of E-resveratrol (strong sirtuin activator and antineoplastic) and the anticancer vascular-targeting combretastatin-type stilbenes, a series of twenty-three β-E-nitrostyrenes was synthesized in order to evaluate potential antineoplastic, antitubulin, and antimicrobial activities. The β-E-nitrostyrenes evaluated ranged from monosubstituted phenols to trimethoxy and 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy derivatives. Two of the β-nitrostyrenes were synthesized as water-soluble sodium phosphate derivatives (4t, 4v). All except four (4r, 4s, 4t, 4u) of the series significantly inhibited a minipanel of human cancer cell lines. All but eight led to an IC₅₀ of <10 μM for inhibition of tubulin polymerization, and all except three (4l, 4t, 4v) displayed antimicrobial activity.