A few flavanones were synthesised by cyclisation of corresponding 3-(heteroaryl)-1(2-hydroxyphenyl) prop-2-en-1-one with sodium acetate in alcohol-water and evaluated for activity. Synthesised compounds were assayed for their in vitro anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines, mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF7), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29) and human kidney adenocarcinoma (A498) using sulforhodamine B dye. Results indicated that most of the compounds exhibited significant in vitro anticancer potential. Among them, compound having furan ring showed most potent activity against all the tested cell lines.
Keywords: A498; Flavanone; HT29; MCF7; SRB dye; anticancer activity; chalcone.