In-vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant, bleomycin-dependent DNA damage and immunomodulatory evaluation of 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-3-aryloxypyrrolidine-2,5-dione based derivatives

A one pot, economical, and efficient synthesis of 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-3- aryloxypyrrolidine-2,5-diones-based derivatives 5a-l have been accomplished in single steps and in satisfactory yields from 1-(4-acetylphenyl)-pyrrole-2,5- diones 3 and phenols 4a-l. All the compounds were characterized by physical, spectroscopic, and elemental analysis. The selection of the bioassays was based on proving the drug receptor binding concept. Compounds 5g, 5k, 5h, 5i, 5a, and 5f showed the highest inhibitory antioxidant activity using ABTS methods. Compounds 5k, 5g, 5c, 5h, 5b, 5d, 5f, and 5j manifested the best protective effect against DNA damage induced by bleomycin. Moreover, an in-vitro cytotoxic activity evaluation of all synthesized compounds was against four cancer cell lines using 5-Fluorouracil as a standard anticancer drug.