Heterocyclic substituted anthralin derivatives as inhibitors of keratinocyte growth and inducers of differentiation.

Heterocyclic substituted derivatives of the antipsoriatic anthralin were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative action against keratinocytes and their ability to induce keratinocyte differentiation. The indole-2-carboxylic acid analogue 2e exhibited the same excellent antiproliferative activity as anthralin and also induced terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. As a benefit of its strongly diminished potential to generate oxygen radicals, 2e did not induce damage of keratinocyte membranes.