Pharmacological evaluation of 9,10-dihydrochromeno[8,7- e ][1,3]oxazin-2(8 H )-one derivatives as potent anti-inflammatory agent

Abstract Background Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most widely administered drugs for the treatment of inflammation. However, they usually cause some unexpected side effects. Coumarins and their derivatives exhibit broad-spectrum biological activities. In order to develop new anti-inflammatory drugs with high anti-inflammatory activity and less side effects, a series of 9-substituted-9,10-dihydrochromeno[8,7- e ][1,3]oxazin-2(8 H )-one derivatives were designed, synthesized, and screened for their anti-inflammatory activities. Methods We investigated the effect of compound 9-(2-chlorophenyl)-9,10-dihydrochromeno[8,7- e ][1,3]oxazin-2(8 H )-one (B3 ) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine levels in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations between 6.25 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was investigated by western blot assay. Results Compound B3 could inhibit inflammatory responses via suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Docking study of the prepared compounds was performed for the study of interaction of molecules with the active site of TNF-α. Conclusion 9,10-Dihydrochromeno[8,7- e ][1,3]oxazin-2(8 H )-one derivatives showed anti-inflammatory activity. Compound B3 was the most potent. The results of this study are encouraging further investigations to develop compound B3 as a novel therapeutic agent for inflammatory disorders.