Background: Chalcones are open-chain flavonoids which display a large number of pharmacological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory including antioxidant. The objective of this study was to assess antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of six synthesized chalcones. Methodology: For the current experiments, 1,3-diphenylpropenone (compound R) was used as molecular model to synthetize six compounds, namely three benzyl-benzimidazolyl-chalcones (U1, U2, WAC1) and three imidazopyridinyl-chalcones (V1, V2, V3). All the compounds were evaluated for their ability to scavenge the stable free ABTS.+ radical cation, according to the method develop by Choong et al. In addition, the cytotoxicity test described by Price et al., was performed using healthy human cell line, then in human malignant cell lines (HEP-2, A549). Results: All synthesized chalcones reduced the ABTS.+ radical cation. Indeed, benzyl benzimidazolyl compounds WAC1, U1, U2, by developing respectively 39.61%, 66.09%, and 84.20% percentages of reduction, showed an antioxidant effect 6, 11 and 14 times greater than the compound R (6.14%). As a result, imidazopyridinyl-chalcones compounds, namely V1, V2 and V3 reduced the ABTS.+ radical cation at 91.62%, 99.84% and 97.45% respectively, being 15 and 16 times more active than the compound R. About cytotoxicity, V2 inhibited not significantly HEP-2 malignant cells growth at 48.64%, compared to the standard product, i.e. doxorubicin that inhibited the growth of the same cells at 42.37%. WAC1 inhibited significantly the growth of A549 malignant cells at 89.53%, more than doxorubicin which percentage of growth inhibition was 71.58%. Conclusion: The presence of the α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system (or 1,3-diphenylpropenone) along with a benzimidazole or imidazopyridine heterocyclic ring is likely to contribute to both cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of these compounds.
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