Phase transition behavior and pharmacological activity of some mesogenic compounds possessing terminal hydroxy groups

Abstract

We prepared some novel amphiphilic compounds possessing two terminal hydroxy groups within a molecule. Those compounds were obtained by esterification of 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid with catechol, resorcinol or hydroquinone. Then we evaluated the anticancer activity of the amphiphilic compounds on A549 human lung carcinoma cell lines. The resorcinol derivative showed marked suppressive effect on A549 cell proliferation. The inhibition ratio is about 90% at the concentration of 10 M. On the other hand, the catechol derivative showed 35 % inhibition.