Synthesis and biological activities of 8-arylflavones

A number of 8-arylflavones have been synthesized as congeners of wogonin and evaluated for their inhibitory activities of PGE2 production. 8-Arylflavones were obtained from commercially available chrysin via two different synthetic pathways. Most 8-arylflavones exhibited much reduced inhibitory activities against COX-2 catalyzed PGE2 production compared to that of wogonin. Functional group replacement at the 8-position of wogonin from methoxy to aryl group caused loss of inhibitory activity. Our present results imply that the functional group at the 8-position of flavones seems to play very important roles for bioactivity.