Design and synthesis of novel magnolol derivatives as potential antimicrobial and antiproliferative compounds.

Abstract A series of novel magnolol derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. We found that most of the compounds were effective inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA and VRE with MIC in the range of 1–64 μg/mL and MBC in the range of 1–128 μg/mL. Few derivatives also exhibited promising antifungal activity. Some magnolol analogues exhibited promising antiproliferative activity than parent magnolol when tested against three human cancer cell lines.