Synthesis of new xanthone analogues and their biological activity test—Cytotoxicity, topoisomerase II inhibition, and DNA cross-linking study

In this report, we prepared some 3-(2′,3′-epoxypropoxy)xanthones and their epoxide ring opened halohydrin analogues, and evaluated their cytotoxicity and topoisomerase II inhibition activity using doxorubicin and etoposide as references, respectively. Another xanthone compound 9, 1,3-di(2′,3′-epoxypropoxy)xanthone, was also synthesized and its DNA cross-linking property including other two biological activities investigated. The biological test results showed compound 9 possessed excellent cytotoxic and topoisomerase II inhibitory activity than other compounds tested. It also exhibited significant DNA cross-linking activities.