Design and synthesis of new triazoles linked to xanthotoxin for potent and highly selective anti-gastric cancer agents

Two series of xanthotoxin-triazole derivatives were designed, synthesized, and studied for their antiproliferative properties. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds in the AGS cancer cell line and the L02 normal cell line was evaluated via MTT assay. Among the synthesized compounds, 9-((1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)-7H-furo[3,2-g]chromen-7-one (6p) was found to have the greatest antiproliferative activity against AGS cells (IC₅₀ = 7.5 μM) and showed better activity than the lead compound (xanthotoxin, IC₅₀ > 100 μM) and the reference drug (5-fluorouracil, IC₅₀ = 29.6 μM) did. The IC₅₀ value of 6p in L02 cells was 13.3 times higher than that in the AGS cells. Therefore, the compound exhibited better therapeutic activity and specificity compared with the positive control 5-fluorouracil. Cell cycle analysis revealed that compound 6p inhibited cell growth via the induction of S/G2 phase arrest in AGS cells. Compound 6p was identified as a promising lead compound for the further development and identification of 1,2,3-triazole-based anticancer agents.