Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-arylbenzofuranone derivatives as potential anti-Alzheimer's disease agents.

Multi-target drugs can better address the cascade of events involved in oxidative stress and the reduction in cholinergic transmission that occur in Alzheimer's disease than cholinesterase inhibitors alone. We synthesised a series of 3-arylbenzofuranone derivatives and evaluated their antioxidant activity, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. 3-Arylbenzofuranone compounds exhibit good antioxidant activity as well as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The IC value of anti-acetylcholinesterase inhibition of Compound (0.089 ± 0.01 μM) is similar to the positive drug donepezil (0.059 ± 0.003 μM). According to the experimental results, Compounds , show a certain effect in the evaluation performed and have the potential as drug candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.