Synthesis and investigation of dihydroxychalcones as calpain and cathepsin inhibitors.

In order to identify potential calpain and cathepsin inhibitors we prepared 12 dihydroxychalcone analogues and tested their ability to inhibit μ-calpain, m-calpain, cathepsins B and L. In the calpain inhibition test, compound 10 exhibited the most active inhibitory activity against m-calpain with an IC50 value of 25.25±0.901μM. With respect to inhibition of cathepsins B and L, compound 13 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity on cathepsin L and moderate inhibitory activity on cathepsin B with IC50 values of 2.80±0.100 and 11.47±0.087μM, respectively. Our results suggest the possibility of developing dual calpain and cathepsin inhibitors by properly modulating structures and/or combining the essential aspects of the functional group effective for specific calpain and cathepsin inhibition.