抗疟新药的研究:笨骈[g]喹嘛氨基酚双Mannich碱类化合物的合成

前文报道了一类具有对-氨基酚双Mannich碱的杂环类化合物,其中以4-[3,5-双(次甲基四氢吡咯基)-4-羟基苯胺基]苯骈[g]喹啉(I)对鼠伯氏疟原虫的作用最显著;鼠疟试验,未发现它与氯喹有交叉抗药性。这个化合物的母核是苯骈[g]喹啉,它与目前国外正在研究的一种抗疟新药dabequing的母核类同,前者为苯骈[g]喹啉环4位上接有双Mannich碱     

N~1-(4-取代氨基-6-三氟甲基-2-嘧啶基)-N~3-(卤苯基)胍的合成及其抗丝虫作用

报道了N~1-[4＇-[3-(二烷胺基)甲基和3, 5-双[(二烷胺基)甲基]-4-羟基苯胺基]-6-三氟甲基-2-嘧啶基]-N~3-(4-卤苯基)胍的合成。合成了24个化合物,经药理初筛表明,该类型化合物对感染沙鼠的棉鼠丝虫微丝蚴或成虫有一定的杀灭作用。     

Chemical and pharmacological research on derivatives of 1H-naphtho/2,1-b/pyran. V. Behavior of some 1-oxo-3-dialkylamino-1H-naphtho/2,1-b/pyrans substituted in the Mannich reaction]

1-Oxo-3-dialkylamino-1H-naphtho [2,1-b] pyrans substituted in positions 5, 8 or 9 with halogen, alkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, methoxyl, by the Mannich reaction will yield the corresponding 2-dialkylamino-methyl derivatives when a correct amount of acetic acid is present in the reaction mixture. Excess acid will give rise to the formation of substituted 1-oxo-2-[(1'-oxy-3'-oxo-3'H-naphtho [2',1'-b']pyran-2'-yl)methyl]-3-dialkylamino-1H-naphtho [2,1-b] pyrans when the group in the 3 position is dimethylamino or N-pyrrolidyl. In a few cases Mannich bases were accompanied by an appreciable quantity of substituted 2,2'-methylenebis (1-oxo-3-dialkylamino-1H-naphtho-E12,1-B] PYRANS). Therefore, these compounds were synthesized with excellent yields by treating Mannich bases with acetic anhydride. The behavior of some compounds in the acidic hydrolysis was also considered. Some Mannich bases of 1-oxo-3-dialkylamino-9 methoxy-1H-naphtho-[2,1-b] pyrans showed a more specific anticonvulsant activity than the parent compounds.     

Toxicity of some bis Mannich bases and corresponding piperidinols in the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) bioassay

Some acetophenone-derived bis Mannich bases were synthesized: bis[beta-benzoylethyl]ethylamine hydrochloride (IIa), bis[beta-(p-methylbenzoyl)ethyl]ethylamine hydrochloride (IIb), bis[beta-(p-chlorobenzoyl)ethyl]ethy- lamine hydrochloride (IId), bis[(2-thienylcarbonyl)ethyl]ethylamine hydrochloride (IIe); some corresponding piperidinol derivatives: 3-benzoyl-1-ethyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol hydrochloride (IIIa), 1-ethyl-3-(p-methyl- benzoyl)-4-(p-methylphenyl)-4-piperidinol hydrochloride (IIIb), 1-ethyl-3-(p-methoxybenzoyl)-4-(p-methoxy- phenyl)-4-piperidinol hydrochloride (IIIc), 1-ethyl-3-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-piperidinol hydrochloride (IIId), 1-ethyl-4-(2-thienyl)-3-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-4-piperidinol hydrochloride (IIIe); and some representative quaternary piperidinols: 3-benzoyl-1-ethyl-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidinium iodide (IIIf), 1-ethyl-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(p-methylbenzoyl)-4-(p-methylphenyl)piperidinium iodide (IIIg). Toxicity was tested by the brine shrimp bioassay as an intermediate test before further in vivo animal experiments. Piperidine derivatives were found to be more potent than bis Mannich bases. Quaternary piperidine derivatives IIIf and IIIg and also non-quaternary piperidine derivatives IIIb, IIIe, IIIc and IIId were more toxic than 5-fluorouracil in brine shrimp bioassay. Except for IIe, bis Mannich bases were not effective. Quaternization and conversion of bis Mannich bases to corresponding piperidines improved the toxicity. The lipid solubility of the compounds may not affect the toxicity. From these findings the quaternary piperidine derivatives IIIf and IIIg could be used in further drug development and also for in vivo experiments.     

抗疟新药咯萘啶及其类似物的合成

作者等根据一些抗疟药的构效关系,合成了一种新化合物2-甲氧基-7-氯-10-[3′,5′-双(四氢吡咯次甲基)一4′-羟基苯胺基]苯骈[b]1,5-萘啶(Ⅰ),代号7351,定名咯萘啶。它对红内期裂殖体的作用显著,毒性低。之后,又合成了它的类似物Ⅱ,这些类似物大多数对鼠疟Plasmodiumberghei的红内期均具有不同程度的作用,其中Ⅱ_1～6,9.10等的作用与Ⅰ相当。对子孢子诱发感染的鼠疟P.yoelii的作用以化合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ_{1,3,5,6,9,10,12,15}等为最强,优于伯喹对照组。值得注意的是,这类化合物既对血液转种的鼠疟P.berghei具有显著的作用,同时对子孢子感染的鼠疟P.yoelii也具有显著的作用。     

抗疟药双咯喹及其类似物的合成

报道了双咯喹(4)和同类抗疟药阿莫地喹(1)、环喹(2)、阿莫吡喹(3)及衍生物5～14的合成,均用烷基胺与4-(4-羟基苯胺基)-7-氯喹啉进行Mannich反应而得。对鼠伯氏疟原虫的作用,以4及3最强;毒性均低于氯喹;与氯喹的交叉抗性指数分别为4及5。4治疗间日疟病人的疗效与氯喹相当。1,2,3,7,8还具有抗小鼠日本血吸虫的作用。     

The antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activities of new xanthone derivative with piperazine moiety in behavioral tests in mice

Objectives:Xanthones are flavonoids with numerous activities, including antioxidant, antidepressant., or anxiolytic-like. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like properties of four xanthone derivatives (3-chloro-5-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-9H-xanthen-9-one dihydrochloride [HBK-5], 6-methoxy-2-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) methyl]-9H-xanthen-9-one dihydrochloride, 2-[(4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl) methyl]-6-methoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one dihydrochloride, 2-{[4-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazin-1-yl] methyl}-9H-xanthen-9-one hydrochloride), as well as the influence on cognitive and motor function of active compounds, using animal models.Results:The antidepressant-like activity (in both FST and TST) showed only HBK-5. Moreover, the compound was also active in the four-plate test, which suggests that it possessed anxiolytic-like properties. HBK-5 did not cause any cognitive and motor deficits in mice at antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like doses.Conclusions:HBK-5 may have potential in the treatment of depression or anxiety disorders, but this issue needs further studies.KEY WORDS: Antidepressant-like, anxiolytic-like, behavioral tests, buspirone, moclobemide, xanthone derivative     

盐酸昂丹司琼有关物质B的合成

为了盐酸昂丹司琼的质控,合成了欧洲药典7.0中规定的有关物质B[6,6′-亚甲基双[9-甲基-3-[(2-甲基-1H-咪唑-1-基)甲基]-1,2,3,9-四氢-4H-咔唑-4-酮]]:用4,4′-二氨基二苯甲烷经重氮化及还原得到4,4′-二肼基二苯甲烷二盐酸盐,与1,3-环己二酮缩合后进行Fischer环合生成6,6′-亚甲基双(1,2,3,9-四氢4H-咔唑-4-酮),再经甲基化、与多聚甲醛进行羟醛缩合反应,最后与2-甲基咪唑进行Michael加成制得.     

甲磺酸伊马替尼有关物质的合成

为了控制甲磺酸伊马替尼产品质量,分别合成了质量标准所载的5种有关物质:4-[(哌嗪-1-基)甲基]-N-[4-甲基-3-[ [4- (3-吡啶基)嘧啶-2-基]氨基]苯基]苯甲酰胺(A),4-[(4-甲基-1,4-二氧化哌嗪-1-基)甲基]-N-[4-甲基-3-[ [4- (3-吡啶基)嘧啶-2-基]氨基]苯基]苯甲酰胺(B),4-[(4-甲基-1-氧化哌嗪-1-基)甲基]-N-[4-甲基-3-[ [4- (3-吡啶基)嘧啶-2-基]氨基]苯基]苯甲酰胺(C),4-[ (4-甲基-4-氧化哌嗪-1-基)甲基]-N-[4-甲基-3-[ [4- (3-吡啶基)嘧啶-2-基]氨基]苯基]苯甲酰胺(D)和1,4-双[4-[4-甲基-3-[ [4- (3-吡啶基)嘧啶-2-基]氨基]苯基]氨甲酰基]苄基哌嗪(E),并经1H NMR、MS等确证结构.     

翁丹西隆的合成

以环己酮为起始原料,经与苯肼缩合、氧化、Mannich 反应制得1,2,3,9-四氢-3-二甲胺基甲基-4H-咔唑-4-酮盐酸盐(5),后者再与2-甲基咪唑缩合、甲基化合成翁丹西隆,总收率为10.4%。     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain 4-substituted and 2,4-disubstituted 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

Treatment of the sodium salt of 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (2) with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (3) has provided 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (4). Ammonolysis of 4 at room temperature gave 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (5). However, ammonolysis of 5 at 130 degrees C furnished 4-amino-2-(methylthio)-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (6), which on desulfurization with Raney Ni yielded 4-amino-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (7) (acyclic analogue of tubercidin). The oxidation of 6 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid provided the sulfone derivative 8. A nucleophilic displacement of the 2-methylsulfonyl group from 8 with methoxide anion provided 4-amino-2-methoxy-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (9). Demethylation of 9 with iodotrimethylsilane gave 4-amino-2-hydroxy-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (10). Treatment of 2,4-dichloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (11) with 3 gave the protected acyclic compound 12, which on deacetylation and ammonolysis under controlled reaction conditions gave 2,4-dichloro-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (13) and 4-amino-2-chloro-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (14), respectively. The condensation of 2-acetamido-4-chloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (15) with 3 gave the protected acyclic compound 16, which on concomitant deacetylation and ammonolysis with methanolic ammonia at an elevated temperature yielded 2,4-diamino-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (17) in moderate yield. In tests involving human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), only slight activity and cytotoxicity were observed. The most active compounds (12 and 13) were slightly more active against HCMV than acyclovir, but both compounds were inactive against HSV-1. The activity against HCMV, however, was not well separated from cytotoxicity leading to the conclusion that these compounds did not merit further study.     

Receptor reserve analysis of the human alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor using

Here we determine for norepinephrine, (5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)quinoxaline) (UK14,304), 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-(2-propenyl)-4H-thiazolo[4,5-d]azepin-2-amine dihydrochloride (BHT-920), (2-[3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-t-butylbenzyl]-2-imidazoline) (oxymetazoline), and ((R)-3-Hydroxy-alpha-[(methylamino)methyl]-benzenemethanol hydrochloride) (phenylephrine), affinities using a radiolabeled agonist and antagonist, and potency and efficacy values in membrane [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) ([(35)S]GTP gamma S) binding and cAMP cellular inhibition assays, in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) expressing the human alpha(2c)-adrenoceptor. These cells express a high ratio of receptor to G-protein because each agonist, but not several antagonists, displaced [(3)H]UK14,304 with higher affinity than [(3)H]rauwolscine. The rank order of potency of high affinity K(i) and EC(50) in both functional assays was norepinephrine > or =UK14,304>BHT-920>oxymetazoline>phenylephrine. The receptor reserve of G-protein activation and cAMP responses was measured with the irreversible antagonist, benextramine; K(A) values of norepinephrine or UK14,304 were similar (289, 271 or 150, 163 nM, respectively). A 20-fold greater receptor occupancy was required for agonist-induced half-maximal [(35)S]GTP gamma S binding compared to cAMP inhibition, indicating significant signal amplification in cells. Therefore, the G-protein activation assay is better at distinguishing full and partial agonists.     

Identification, synthesis, isolation and spectral characterization of potential impurities of montelukast sodium

During the process development of montelukast sodium, three polar impurities and one non-polar impurity with respect to montelukast sodium were detected by simple reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Initially, all the four impurities were identified by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data and out of four impurities, three have been prepared by the synthetic method and remaining one is isolated by preparative HPLC. Based on the spectral data (IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS), the structure of these impurities 1-4 were characterised as 1-[[[(1R)-1-[3-[(1E)-2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl-3-[2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phenyl]propyl]thio]methyl]cyclopropane acetamide (impurity-1), {1-[1-{3-[2-(7-chloro-quinolin-2-yl)-vinyl]-phenyl}-3-(2-isopropenyl-phenyl)-propylsulfanylmethyl]-cyclopropyl}-acetic acid (impurity-2), 1-[[[(1R)-1-[3-[(1E)-2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethyl]phenyl-3-[2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phenyl]propyl]thio]methyl]cyclopropaneacetic acid (impurity-3) and 1-[[[(1R)-1-[3-[(1E)-2-(2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl-3-[2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)phenyl]propyl]thio]methyl]cyclopropaneacetic acid (impurity-4).     

Adenosine deaminase inhibitors. Synthesis and biological evaluation of (+/-)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d] [1,3]diazepin-8-ol and some selected C-5 homologues of pentostatin

The synthesis of several analogues of (8R)-3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro- pentofuranosyl)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (pentostatin, 1a) is described. Ring closure of 2-amino-1-(5-amino-1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethanone dihydrochloride (3) with triethyl orthoacetate or triethyl orthopropionate gave the C-5 methyl and ethyl ketoaglycons, 6,7-dihydro-5-methylimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (4b) and 5-ethyl-6,7-dihydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (4c), respectively. Stannic chloride catalyzed condensation of the pertrimethylsilyl derivatives of 4b and 4c with a protected glycosyl halide afforded anomeric mixtures of ketonucleosides 3-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-beta- and -alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-6,7-dihydro-5-methylimidazo[4,5-d] [1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (5b and 6b) and 3-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl)-beta- and -alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5-ethyl-6,7-dihydroimidazo[4,5-d]- [1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (5c and 6c), respectively. Subsequent separation of the anomers, followed by deprotection and reduction of 5b, 6b, and 5c, afforded the respective 8R and 8S isomers. Stannic chloride catalyzed condensation of pertrimethylsilyl ketoaglycon 4a with 2-(chloromethoxy)-1-(p-toluoyloxy) ethane to give ketonucleoside 6,7-dihydro-3-[[2-(p-toluoyloxy)ethoxy] methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (9a) was followed by deprotection to 6,7-dihydro-3[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3] diazepin-8(3H)-one (9b) and then reduction to the racemic acyclic pentostatin analogue (+/-)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-[ (2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (2). Ki values for the in vitro adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4; type I; calf intestinal mucosa) inhibitory activities of 1b, 1c, and 2 were determined to be 1.6 X 10(-8), 1.5 X 10(-6), and 9.8 X 10(-8) M, respectively. When compounds 2 and 9b were tested in combination with vidarabine against herpes simplex virus, type 1, in an HEp-2 plaque reduction assay, only compound 2 was able to potentiate the antiviral activity of vidarabine.     

Thieno[2,3-c]quinolines - synthesis and biological investigation

pH-Dependant reduction of the methyl 3-(2-nitrophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate (3), obtained by Suzuki cross-coupling of the methyl 3-iodothiophene-2-carboxylate with 2-nitrophenyl boronic acid yields the cyclic hydroxamic acid 4 and the lactam 5, respectively. The lactam 5 is also formed by reacting the compound 2 with pinacolato 2-aminophenylboronate. The 4-chlorothieno[2,3-c]quinoline 6 is formed from the lactam 5 by heating with POCl3/PCl5. Melting of 6 with the novaldiamine base in phenol gives the chloroquine analogue 7, whereas the amodiaquine and the cycloquine analogues 8 and 9 are obtained using phenol Mannich bases. The hydroxamic acid 4 has a moderate effect on eicosanoid biosynthesis in human whole blood. The growth of the chloroquine resistent Plasmodium falciparum strain Dd2 is inhibited by the pyronaridine derivative 9 with an IC50 value of 650 nM.     

Three new secolignan glycosides from Urtica fissa E. Pritz

Three new secolignan glycosides {3,4-trans-4-[bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-2-oxotetrahydrafuran-3-yl}methyl-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), {3,4-trans-4-[(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-2-oxotetrahydrafuran-3-yl}methyl-O-β-glucopyranoside (2) and {3,4-cis-4-[(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-2-oxotetrahydrafuran-3-yl}methyl-O-β-glucopyranoside (3) were isolated from the roots of Urtica fissa E. Pritz. Their structures were identified by spectral methods including 1D NMR, 2D NMR and HR-EI-MS.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of nevirapine prodrugs

The synthesis, in vitro anti-HIV activity and stability studies of the N-Mannich bases of nevirapine are reported. Among the synthesized compounds, 5-{[4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1 -yl]methyl}-1-cyclopropyl-4-methyl-5,11-dihydro-6H-dipyrido[2,3-e:3',2'-b][1,4]diazepin-6-one (3) was found to be the most potent compound with EC50 of 0.0159 microM against HIV-1 replication and CC50 of >1000 microM against CEM cell lines with selectivity index of >62893. Compound 3 was five times more active than nevirapine (EC50 of 0.09 microM). In vitro hydrolysis of the Mannich bases in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) indicated that these agents were relatively stable with t1/2 ranging from 15 to 240 min.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of some 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of sangivamycin and toyocamycin

The sodium salt of 4-amino-3-cyanopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (1) was condensed with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (2) to provide the corresponding protected acyclic nucleoside, 4-amino-3-cyano-1-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimid ine (3). Treatment of 3 with sodium methoxide in methanol provided a good yield of methyl 4-amino-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3- formimidate (4). Treatment of the imidate (4) with sodium hydrogen sulfide gave the thiocarboxamide derivative 5. Aqueous base transformed 4 into 4-amino-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3- carboxamide (6) in good yield. Treatment of 5 with mercuric chloride furnished the toyocamycin analogue 7. Evaluation of compounds 1, 3-7 revealed that only the heterocycle (1) and the thiocarboxamide acyclic nucleoside (5) were active. Compound 5 was the more potent with activity against human cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1.     

Norlignans from Pouzolzia zeylanica var. microphylla and their nitric oxide inhibitory activity

Five new compounds, pouzolignan F [4-hydroxy-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]butyl acetate] (1), pouzolignan G [4-hydroxy-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]butyl acetate] (2), pouzolignan H [1,4-dihydroxy-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]butane] (3), pouzolignan I [1,4-dihydroxy-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(4-hydroxy-3,5-dime thoxyphenyl)-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]butane] (4), and pouzolignan J [1,4-dihydroxy-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) -2-[(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]butane] (5), along with two known compounds, indolyl-3-carboxylic acid (6) and uracil (7), were isolated from the aerial parts of Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn. var. microphylla (Wedd.) W.T.Wang. The structures of these compounds were characterized based on spectroscopic methods, including IR, NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and HR-ESI/TOF-MS experiments. All the new norlignans were assayed for inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indole derivatives

A series of novel 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indoles (3a-l) were synthesized and their cytotoxicities were analyzed against 3 different human cell lines, including liver (HUH7), breast (MCF7) and colon (HCT116). The Mannich reaction of 3-methylindole (1) with 4-substitutedpiperazines (2) and formaldehyde resulted to the 3-methyl-1-[(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indoles (3a-l) in 38-69% yields. The investigation of anticancer screening revealed that the tested compounds showed comparable activity to the reference drug 5-fluorouracil and compounds 3g, 3h, 3i and 3k, had lower 50% inhibition (IC50) concentration than reference drug. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of the most potent compound 3h on HUH7 and MCF7 cells through apoptosis was visualized by Hoechst staining and compared with paclitaxel, which is a mitotic inhibitor acting on microtubules. The morphological features of apoptosis were observed as condensed and fragmented nuclei that are similar to paclitaxel.