Synthesis of new chalcone derivatives containing acridinyl moiety with potential antimalarial activity.

A series of novel chalcones bearing acridine moiety attached to the amino group in their ring A have been synthesized through noncatalyzed nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction between various 3'-aminochalcone or 4'-aminochalcones and 9-chloroacridine. The synthesized chalcone derivatives have been characterized and screened for in vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum NF-54. All the chalcones showed complete inhibition at concentration of 10 microg/mL and above while three compounds showed significant inhibition at concentration of 2 microg/mL. The three most active chalcone derivatives were screened for in vivo activity as well, but no significant inhibition in parasitaemia was observed when given intraperitoneally to Plasmodium yoelii infected mice model.