Investigation of anti-inflammatory potential of N-arylcinnamamide derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules24244531

A series of sixteen ring-substituted N-arylcinnamanilides, previously described as highly antimicrobially effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi, together with two new derivatives from this group were prepared and characterized. Moreover, the molecular structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide as a model compound was determined using single-crystal X-ray analysis. All the compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential, and most tested compounds significantly attenuated the lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-κB activation and were more potent than the parental cinnamic acid. (2E)-N-[2-Chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-phenylprop-2-enamide, (2E)-N-(2,6-dibromophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide, and (2E)-N-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide demonstrated the highest inhibition effect on transcription factor NF-κB at the concentration of 2 μM and showed a similar effectiveness as the reference drug prednisone. Several compounds also decreased the level of TNF-α. Nevertheless, subsequent tests showed that the investigated compounds affect neither IκBα level nor MAPKs activity, which suggests that the N-arylcinnamanilides may have a different mode of action to prednisone. The modification of the C_(2,5)⁰ or C_(2,6)⁰ positions of the anilide core by rather lipophilic and bulky moieties seems to be preferable for the anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules24244531

molecules
Article
Investigation of Anti-Inflammatory Potential of
N-Arylcinnamamide Derivatives
1
1
1
1
Jan Hošek 1 , Jirˇí Kos , Tomáš Strhársky , Lucie Cerná , Pavel Štarha
, Ján Vancˇo 1
,
ˇ
Zdeneˇk Trávnícˇek 1 , Ferdinand Devínsky 2,
*
and Josef Jampílek 1,3,
*
1
Division of Biologically Active Complexes and Molecular Magnets, Regional Centre of Advanced
Technologies and Materials, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelu˚ 27,
78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic; jan.hosek@upol.cz (J.H.); jiri.kos@upol.cz (J.K.);
ˇ
tomas.strharsky01@upol.cz (T.S.); lucie.cerna02@upol.cz (L.C.); pavel.starha@upol.cz (P.Š.);
jan.vanco@upol.cz (J.V.); zdenek.travnicek@upol.cz (Z.T.)
Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Odbojárov 10, 83232 Bratislava, Slovakia
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicˇova 6,
84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
2
3
*
Correspondence: fdevinsky@gmail.com (F.D.); josef.jampilek@gmail.com (J.J.)
ꢀꢁꢂꢀꢃꢄꢅꢆꢇ
Received: 18 November 2019; Accepted: 10 December 2019; Published: 11 December 2019
ꢀꢁꢂꢃꢄꢅꢆ
Abstract: A series of sixteen ring-substituted N-arylcinnamanilides, previously described as
highly antimicrobially effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi, together with two
new derivatives from this group were prepared and characterized. Moreover, the molecular
structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide as a model compound
was determined using single-crystal X-ray analysis. All the compounds were tested for
their anti-inflammatory potential, and most tested compounds significantly attenuated the
lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-κB activation and were more potent than the parental cinnamic acid.
(2E)-N-[2-Chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-phenylprop-2-enamide, (2E)-N-(2,6-dibromophenyl)-
3-phenylprop-2-enamide, and (2E)-N-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide demonstrated
the highest inhibition effect on transcription factor NF-
similar effectiveness as the reference drug prednisone. Several compounds also decreased the level
of TNF- . Nevertheless, subsequent tests showed that the investigated compounds affect neither
level nor MAPKs activity, which suggests that the N-arylcinnamanilides may have a different
κB at the concentration of 2 µM and showed a
α
IκBα
0
0
mode of action to prednisone. The modification of the C(2,5) or C(2,6) positions of the anilide core by
rather lipophilic and bulky moieties seems to be preferable for the anti-inflammatory potential of
these compounds.
Keywords: cinnamamides; X-ray structure; polypharmacology; anti-inflammatory potential
1. Introduction
Inflammation is physiological immune reaction against infectious agents or injury, and its main
role is to eradicate the noxious agent and to restore tissue homeostasis [1]. Under normal conditions,
inflammation is self-limiting, but when it is uncontrolled and continuous, chronic inflammatory
phase can develop subsequently. Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of many diseases, including
atherosclerosis [2], rheumatoid arthritis [3], psoriasis [4], cancer [5], chronic respiratory diseases [6,7],
and type 2 diabetes mellitus [8].
To modulate and drive the inflammatory response and inflammation itself are big tasks of current
medicine. One way of handling such conditions is the application of natural compounds and their
derivatives. Natural material is a huge source of bioactive compounds [
9,
10], and many currently used
Molecules 2019, 24, 4531; doi:10.3390/molecules24244531
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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drugs are directly obtained from plants or fungi or are “nature-inspired” [11]. One such molecule is
cinnamic acid (CA). It is a small organic molecule, which can be found in many kinds of plants in pure
form or as a part of more complicated structures. CA and its natural and synthetic derivatives possess
many interesting biological effects, such as antimicrobial [12,13], anticancer [14], anti-oxidant [13],
and anti-inflammatory activities [15].
N-Arylcinnamides represent a group of synthetic derivatives of CA. This group of compounds
possesses several potentially active moieties—styryl, amide (peptide-like [16]) bond, and aryl [17 22].
Thus, cinnamides can be considered as a privilege structure or a scaffold (a part) of more complex
molecules in medicinal chemistry [23 24] The series of N-arylcinnamide derivatives presented in
this work was previously tested for their anti-microbial activity (compounds 15 and 17) [25 26],
–
,
1–
,
and three new derivatives 16 and 18 were prepared and characterized. Based on the concepts of
polypharmacology, multifactorial diseases, and multitarget drugs [27], as well as the above-mentioned
results, a group of eighteen N-arylcinnamanilides was chosen for the screening of their ability to
moderate the inflammation-like reaction in vitro.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Chemistry
The investigated compounds (previously published compounds 1–15 and 17 [25] and two new
compounds, 16 and 18) were prepared using a one-step microwave-assisted synthesis, see Scheme 1.
Briefly, the carboxyl group of CA was activated with phosphorus trichloride, and then the aminolysis
of an acyl chloride by a ring-substituted aniline in dry chlorobenzene gave a final anilide. All the
target derivatives were purified by recrystallization from ethanol. The yields of the target compounds
ranged from 65% to 91%.
Scheme 1. Synthesis of ring-substituted (2E)-N-aryl-3-phenylprop-2-enamides 1–18. Reagents and
conditions: (a) PCl3, chlorobenzene, MW, 20 min [25].
2.2. X-Ray Crystallography
Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed the molecular structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-
phenylprop-2-enamide (15), which is depicted in Figure 1. The crystal data and structure refinement
for 15 are given in Table 1. The crystal structure consists of individual molecules, which are connected
through strong N–H···O and weak C–H···O hydrogen bonds and via Br···O non-covalent contacts into
1D polymeric chains, see Figure 2 and Table 2. Moreover, the crystal structure is further stabilized by
weak C–H···C hydrogen bonds and other non-covalent interactions of C···Br and C···C types connecting
individual molecules into a 3D supramolecular structure. Both benzene rings (ring 1 = C4, C5, C6, C7,
C8, C9, and ring 2 = C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15) are nearly ideally planar with the maximal deviation
of 0.010(4) Å for the C11 atom from the least-squares planes fitted through the mentioned carbon atoms.
The rings are mutually oriented by the dihedral angle of 47.0(2)◦, and this value is substantially lower
as compared to the values of 73.89(7)◦ and 79.46(7)◦ found for N-(2-fluorophenyl)cinnamamide [28
]
(in two crystallographically independent molecules with the asymmetric unit) and the value of
24.6(1)◦ found for N-(3-chlorophenyl)cinnamamide [29]. Moreover, there are also next two known

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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structures of halogenated N-phenylcinnamamides, i.e., N-(3,5-difluoro-4-chlorophenyl)cinnamide and
N-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cinnamide [30], in which both aromatic rings are almost coplanar, with the
dihedral angle of 0.54◦ and 2.04◦, respectively. The selected bond lengths and angles of compound 15
are given in Table S1 in Supplementary Materials. Interestingly, the C1–O1 bond length is significantly
longer (1.312(6) Å) than that of a typical double C=O bond (an average value of 1.235(7) Å was found
by the analysis of 39 structures containing the N-phenylcinnamamide skeleton deposited in CSD,
ver. 5.40, Aug 2019 update). This lengthening of this bond in compound 15 may be connected with the
involvement of the O1 atom into non-covalent bonding (see Figure 2).
Figure 1. Molecular structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (15).
Non-H atoms are drawn as thermal ellipsoids at 50% probability level. H-atoms are not labelled and
are displayed as balls in light-grey color.
Table 1. Crystal data and structure refinement for compound 15.
Formula
C15H11BrFNO
Formula weight
Temperature
320.16
150(2) K
Wavelength
0.71073 Å
Crystal system
Space group
Unit cell dimensions
Monoclinic
P21/c
a = 9.410(3) Å, α = 90◦
b = 14.645(5) Å, β = 108.633(15)◦
c = 10.184(4) Å, γ = 90◦
1329.9(8) Å3
Volume
Z
Density (calculated)
Absorption coefficient
F(000)
4
1.599 g/cm3
3.093 mm−1
640
Crystal size
Theta range for data collection
Index ranges
0.140 × 0.140 × 0.060 mm
2.284 to 24.999◦
−11 ≤ h ≤ 11, −17 ≤ k ≤ 17, −12 ≤ l ≤ 12
22311
Reflections collected
Independent reflections
Absorption correction
Refinement method
Data/restraints/parameters
Goodness-of-fit on F2
Final R indices [I > 2σ(I)]
R indices (all data)
Largest diff. peak and hole
2339 [R(int) = 0.1233]
Semi-empirical from equivalents
Full-matrix least-squares on F2
2339/0/160
1.067
R1 = 0.0523, wR2 = 0.1295
R1 = 0.0746, wR2 = 0.1391
1.162 and −1.065 e.Å−3

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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Figure 2. Part of the crystal structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (15
)
showing N–H···O hydrogen bonds and Br···O non-covalent contacts (dashed green lines), connecting
individual molecules into infinite polymeric chains.
Table 2. Parameters of selected non-covalent contacts (in Å and ◦) in the crystal structure of compound 15
.
D-H···A
N(1)-H(1)···O(1)(i)
C(2)-H(2) ···O(1)(i)
Br(1)···O(1)(i)
d(D-H)
d(H···A) d(D···A) <(DHA)
0.88
0.95
–
2.20
2.71
–
3.065(5)
3.507(6)
3.346(3)
167.5
141.8
–
Symmetry transformations used to generate equivalent atoms: (i) x, −y+1/2, z+1/2.
2.3. In Vitro Cell Viability Assay
The panel of tested compounds was evaluated for their cytotoxicity against THP1-Blue
™
NF-κB
cells, see Table 3 and Figure S1 in Supplementary Materials for more information about dose-response
curves. Compounds 10 (R = 3,4-Cl), 11 (R = 3,5-Cl), and 13 (3,5-CF3) showed the lowest IC50 values of
6.28
NF-
±
2.32, 2.43
±
1.06, and 2.17
±
1.19
µ
M, respectively. The moderate cytotoxicity against THP1-Blue
™
κ
B cells was found in case of compound
6
(3-CF3) with IC50 = 11.60 1.13 M. All these compounds
±
µ
were also previously identified to have moderate influence on cell viability in different cancer cell
lines [25].
The obtained results of cytotoxicity correlate with the log k and Clog P parameters calculated in
the work of Pospisilova et al. [25]—the higher values of log k and Clog P parameters are, the higher
IC50 values are, for example, compound
6
(log k = 0.4859, IC50 = 11.60
M) >> compound 11 (log k = 0.8155, IC50 = 2.43
M). Naturally, these observations correspond with distributive parameters
(see Table 3), a constant characterizing hydrophobicity (lipophilicity contribution) of individual
moieties, substituents, and substructures in some skeleton [31 32]; compound πAr = 2.73) >>>>
compound 10 πAr = 2.77) >> compound 11 πAr = 2.90) compound 13 πAr = 3.98). Nevertheless,
µ
M) >>>> compound 10
(
(
log k = 0.6821, IC50 = 6.28
log k = 0.9814, IC50 = 2.17
µ
µ
M) compound 13
≈
µ
π
,
6 (
(
(
≈
(
di-substitution with highly lipophilic and electron-withdrawing substituents (Cl or CF3) on the C(3,5)0 or
C(3,4)0 positions of the anilide ring seems to be the most important for achieving a high antiproliferative
effect. On the other hand, these facts correspond with the high antitubercular and antistaphylococcal
potency of those agents as described recently [25].

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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Table 3. List of ring-substituted N-arylcinnamanilides
1
–
18 and their influence on the viability of
B inhibition
THP1-Blue NF- B cell line (IC50 M] SEM of three independent measurements), NF-κ
™
κ
[
µ
±
[%] in comparison with the starting cinnamic acid (CA), predicted values of distributive parameters
and molar volume (MV [cm3]) of anilide (Ar).
π,
a
Comp.
R
IC50 [µM] ± SEM
NF-κB inhibition [%]
πAr
MV a [cm3]
0 b
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
CA
H
3-CH3
4-CH3
2-F
3-F
3-CF3
2,5-CH3
2,5-Cl
2,6-Cl
3,4-Cl
3,5-Cl
>30
>30
>30
>30
>30
1.76
2.22
2.22
2.26
1.78
2.73
2.68
2.73
2.72
2.77
2.90
2.85
3.98
2.87
2.28
3.09
3.28
1.12
–
80.88
97.11
97.11
85.90
85.90
113.57
113.27
103.54
103.54
103.54
103.54
107.33
145.57
99.09
99.09
105.44
124.72
115.77
–
9.00 b
8.50 b
2.87 b
9.67 b
16.67 b
14.78 b
22.50 b
14.11 b
10.89 c
16.22 c
23.12 b
19.67 c
19.67 b
17.78 b
13.67 b
27.12 b
17.56 b
11.44 b
11.60 ± 1.13
>30
>30
>30
6.28 ± 2.32
2.43 ± 1.06
>30
2,6-Br
3,5-CF3
2-F-5-Br
2-Br-5-F
2-Cl-4-Br
2-Cl-5-CF3
2-OCH3-5-NO2
–
2.17 ± 1.19
>30
>30
>30
>30
>30
>30
a
calculated using ACD/Percepta ver. 2012 (Advanced Chemistry Development, Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada),
concentration of compounds 2 µM, c concentration of compounds 0.5 µM.
b
2.4. Inhibition of NF-κB Activity and Cell Signaling In Vitro
Cinnamic acid alone and several CA derivatives demonstrated the ability to influence the activity
or expression of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-
of N-arylcinnamamide derivatives with the modified cinnamyl phenyl ring on NF-
studied by Chen et al. [23] as well as by Jan et al. [34], but the effect of derivatives with the unchanged
cinnamyl moiety is described here for the first time. Apart from compounds and , all anilides were
able to significantly attenuate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF- B activation by 10% to 27%
in the non-toxic concentrations of 2 and 0.5 M (used for compounds 10 (R = 3,4-Cl), 11 (R = 3,5-Cl),
13 R = 3,5-CF3) with the lowest cell viability), see Figure 3. Moreover, most N-arylcinnamamide
derivatives were more active than the parental CA. The highest inhibitory effect on NF- B activity was
observed for (2E)-N-[2-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-phenyl- prop-2-enamide (17), which was
comparable with prednisone (PDS) applied at the same concentration level of 2 M. The overall
results indicate that monosubstituted N-arylcinnamanilides show lower inhibitory effect on NF-
κ
B in previous studies [15
,33]. The effect
κ
B activity was
1
4
κ
µ
(
κ
µ
κ
B
activity than the di-substituted ones. (2E)-3-Phenyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enamide (6),
with bulky CF3 substitution of the anilide ring, is the only exception.
The electron
σ parameters of individual substituents (listed in Pospisilova et al. [25]) play only a
secondary role in this matter; however, it can be stated that the electron-withdrawing properties of the
anilide substituent seem to be more advantageous. On the other hand, the position of the substituents
on the anilide0ring, lipophilicity, and bulkiness influence the activity of the compounds significantly.
0
C(2,5) or C(2,6) di-substitutions by bulky substituents are preferred. The dependences of the inhibition
of NF-κB on the lipophilicity expressed by distributive π parameters of the whole anilide ring and on

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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the molar volume of the whole anilide ring are illustrated in Figure 4, where the discussed compounds
are shown, with the exception of toxic compounds 10 11 13, and compound 18 (R = 2-OCH3-5-NO2),
which is excluded due to the completely different nature of the substituents compared to the rest
(that are methyls or halogens). Figure 4A,B show the trends of the increasing ability to inhibit NF-
with increasing distributive parameters (correlation coefficient r = 0.7892, n = 14) as well as anilide
,
,
κ
B
π
ring bulkiness (r = 0.8118, n = 14).
Figure 3. Effect of the tested compounds on the activity of transcription factor NF-κB. THP1-Blue™
NF-
κ
B cells were pretreated by compounds (2
M) dissolved in DMSO at indicated concentrations for 1 h. Then, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1
g/mL was added to trigger the NF- B activation. The activity of NF- B was measured 24 h after LPS
assay. Graph represents mean SEM. Red dotted line show value
µM; or 0.5 µM for 10, 11, and 13) or prednisone (PDS;
2
µ
µ
κ
κ
stimulation using QuantiBlue
™
±
of DMSO-only treated group, azur dotted line CA treated group, and blue dotted line PDS treated
group. ** indicates statistical significance (p < 0.01) to DMSO group; *** indicates statistical significance
(p < 0.001) to DMSO group **** indicates statistical significance (p < 0.0001) to DMSO group.
A
B
30
25
20
15
10
5
30
25
20
15
10
5
2-Cl-5-CF3
2-Cl-5-CF3
2,6-Br
2,6-Br
2-F-5-Br
2-Br-5-F
2,5-Cl
2,5-CH3
2,5-Cl
2-F-5-Br
3-CF3
2,5-CH3
3-CF3
2,6-Cl
2-Br-5-F
3-CH3
2-Cl-4-Br
2,6-Cl
2-Cl-4-Br
3-CH3
4-CH3
3-F
3-F
2-F
4-CH3
2-F
H
H
0
0
80.0
90.0
100.0
110.0
120.0
130.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
π
3.0
3.5
MV [cm3]
Figure 4. Dependence of NF-
κB inhibition [%] on lipophilicity contributions of anilide rings expressed
as distributive π parameters (A) and on molar volumes (MV [cm3]) of the whole anilide rings (B).
To confirm the effect of the most potent compound 17 on NF-
translocation was performed (see Figure 5). There is visible nuclear translocation of NF-
κ
B, the analysis of its nuclear
B after LPS
κ
stimulation. This movement was slightly affected by 17. It is in agreement with observed inhibition of
NF-κB activity and it can delineate the possible mechanisms of action.

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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Figure 5. Effect of 17 (R = 2-Cl-5-CF3) and prednisone on the cellular distribution of transcription factor
NF- B. THP1-Blue NF- B cells were pretreated by 17 M ( ) or prednisone (PDS; 2 M) ( ), or by
pure DMSO ( ) for 1 h. Then, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1 g/mL was added to activate the NF-
). Control cell remained without LPS ( ). The cellular distribution of NF- B was observed 1 h
after LPS stimulation using fluorescent microscope.
κ
™
κ
2
µ
D
µ
C
A
,B
µ
κB
(
B–
D
A
κ
Having discovered the high ability of compounds 17 (R = 2-Cl-5-CF3) and
moderate the activity of NF- B, we decided to elucidate further their mechanism of action and
compare it with CA used as the reference compound. The activity of NF- B is driven by the
level of its inhibitor I B and by the activity of several mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs),
especially p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) [35 36], as well as ERK [37]. The influence of CA on
NF- B and MAPKs expression and activity was described previously [38 39], the same as for some
cinnamides [23]. Our results showed no effect of compounds 17 , and CA on the I levels and
MAPKs activity, see Figure 6. Similar effects were also referred for a synthetic derivative of CA,
WK2-16 ((E)-N-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-(biphenyl-4-yl)cinnamide) [34 40]. It was proposed that WK2-16
could influence transcription factors YY-1 and STAT-1/-3. However, the discrepancy between the
NF- B inhibition and unobserved alteration of the above-mentioned signaling pathways could be also
8 (R = 2,5-Cl) to
κ
κ
κ
,
κ
,
,
8
κBα
,
κ
explained by a different mode of action as compared to known anti-inflammatory drugs, like PDS.
It can be hypothesized that the tested N-arylcinnamanilides might act either via the inhibition of the
nuclear translocation of NF-κB (as was described above), or influence its binding to DNA [41,42], or act
by epigenetic regulation [43]. A combination of more than one mechanism of action is not excluded
as well.

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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Figure 6. Effect of N-arylcinnamamide derivatives on the activation of MAPKs. THP1-Blue
™ NF-κB
cells were pretreated by compounds or PDS (2 M) for 1 h, then LPS (1 g/mL) was added to trigger
µ
µ
the inflammatory signalization. Cells were collected 30 min after LPS stimulation and selected proteins
were detected by Western blot and immunodetection.
2.5. Inhibition of TNF-α Secretion
To verify the effect of tested compounds on NF-
under its transcription control [44], was measured. CA is known for its ability to attenuate the
production of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in vitro and in vivo 45 46]. In our experiment, pure CA
did not affect the TNF- production, see Figure 7. This could be caused by the usage of a very low,
but pharmacologically relevant concentration of 2 M. On the other hand, compounds 12 R = 2,6-Br),
R = 3-CF3), and 17 (R = 2-Cl-5-CF3) that showed the highest inhibitory effect on NF- B were able to
significantly decrease the level of TNF- by 10%, 10.4%, and 12.4%, respectively. This correlates with
the observed attenuation of NF- B, when compound 17 reached the greatest effect. However, the effect
of PDS was notably higher–the reduction of TNF- by 70.3%. In case of NF- B inhibition, the tested
compounds are comparable with PDS, but PDS is more effective in TNF- decreasing. This indicates
that the modes of action of PDS and the discussed N-arylcinnamanilides are different.
κB activity, the secretion of TNF-α, which is
[
,
α
µ
(
6
(
κ
α
κ
α
κ
α
Figure 7. Effect of N-arylcinnamamide derivatives on the secretion of TNF-
cells were differentiated to macrophages by PMA. Such cells were pretreated by compounds or PDS
(2 M) for 1 h, then LPS (1 g/mL) was added to trigger the inflammatory signalization. Cultivation
medium was collected 24 h after LPS stimulation, and the amount of TNF- was measured by the
ELISA technique. Graph represents mean SEM. * indicates statistical significance (p < 0.05) to DMSO
α. THP1-Blue™ NF-κB
µ
µ
α
±
group; ** indicates statistical significance (p < 0.01) to DMSO group **** indicates statistical significance
(p < 0.0001) to DMSO group.

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Chemistry
3.1.1. General Information
All reagents were purchased from Merck (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and Alfa
(Alfa-Aesar, Ward Hill, MA, USA). Reactions were performed using a CEM Discover SP microwave
reactor (CEM, Matthews, NC, USA). Melting points of 16 and 18 were determined on an apparatus
STA 449 F1 Jupiter (NETZSCH, Selb, Germany). Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on an UATR
Zn/Se for a Spectrum Two
™ Fourier-transform IR spectrometer (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA).
The spectra were obtained by the accumulation of 32 scans with 4 cm−1 resolution in the region
1
of 4000–400 cm−1. All H- and 13C-NMR spectra were recorded on a JEOL JNM-ECA 600II NMR
spectrometer (600 MHz for H and 150 MHz for 13C, Jeol, Tokyo, Japan) in dimethyl sulfoxide-d6
1
(DMSO-d6). 1H and 13C chemical shifts (
δ) are reported in ppm. High-resolution mass spectra
were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Dionex UltiMate® 3000 (Thermo
Scientific, West Palm Beach, FL, USA) coupled with an LTQ Orbitrap XLTM Hybrid Ion Trap-Orbitrap
Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Scientific) equipped with a HESI II (heated electrospray
ionization) source in the positive mode.
3.1.2. Synthesis
Cinnamic acid (3.37 mM) was suspended at room temperature in dry chlorobenzene (20 mL) inside
a microwave tube, where phosphorus trichloride (1.7 mM) and the corresponding aniline derivative
(3.37 mM) were added dropwise. Following this step, a magnetic stirrer was added to the tube and the
reaction mixture was transferred to the microwave reactor at 120 ◦C for 20 min, where the synthesis at
elevated pressure was performed. After the mixture was cooled to 60 ◦C, the solvent was evaporated in
vacuum. A solid residue was washed with 2 M HCl, and a crude product was recrystallized, using 96%
ethanol first, and then using 50% ethanol.
The N-arylcinnamanilides
et al. [25].
1–15 and 17 were prepared and characterized previously by Pospisilova
◦
(2E)-N-(4-bromo-2-chlorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (16). Yield 65%; Mp 169 C; IR (cm−1):
3265, 3069, 3028, 1654, 1619, 1575, 1523, 1470, 1381, 1336, 1282, 1183, 969, 860, 825, 758, 709, 696, 647,
1
630, 567, 552, 506; H-NMR (DMSO-d6),
δ: 9.57 (s, 1H), 7.93 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (d, J = 2.3 Hz,
1H), 7.66–7.60 (m, 3H), 7.57 (dd, J = 8.7 Hz, 2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.48–7.41 (m, 3H), 7,12 (d, J = 16 Hz, 1H),
see Figure S2; 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6),
δ: 164.01, 141.21, 134.63, 134.60, 131.64, 130.49, 130.01, 129.04,
127.89, 126.66, 121.57, 116.86, see Figure S3; HR-MS: [M + H]+ calculated 335.9785 m/z, found 335.9784
m/z, see Figure S4.
(2E)-N-(2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (18). Yield 78%; Mp 209 ◦C; IR (cm−1):
3421, 3356, 1683, 1595, 1524, 1511, 1476, 1449, 1420, 1340, 1271, 1163, 1139, 1079, 1022, 978, 823, 769, 746,
710, 637, 591; 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6),
δ: 9.74 (s, 1H), 9.22 (d, J = 2.7 Hz, 1H), 8.04 (dd, J = 9.1 Hz, 2.7 Hz,
1H), 7.66–7.60 (m, 3H), 7.48–7.40 (m, 3H), 7.30 (s, 1H), 7.27 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.03 (s, 3H), see Figure S5;
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6),
δ: 164.39, 154.10, 141.06, 140.37, 134.74, 129.95, 129.02, 128.03, 127.89, 122.08,
120.25, 115.38, 110.93, 56.79, see Figure S6; HR-MS: [M + H]+ calculated 299.1026 m/z, found 299.1020
m/z, see Figure S7.
3.2. X-Ray Crystallography
Crystals of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (15) suitable for a single
X-ray analysis were prepared by the slow evaporation of ethanol from the solution of compound 15
at 4 ◦C. The diffraction data were collected on a D8 QUEST diffractometer (Bruker) equipped with
a PHOTON 100 CMOS detector, using Mo–Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å). The data collection and
reduction were performed using the APEX3 software [47]. The structure was solved by a direct method

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
10 of 15
(SHELXS) and refined using the Bruker SHELXTL software package [48]. The benzene ring, involving
C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, and C9 atoms, was refined with a riding group fitting (AFIX 66) with the fixed C–C
bonds (1.39 Å). All H-atoms were found from difference Fourier maps and refined using a riding model,
with C–H = 0.95 Å for (CH) and 0.88 Å for (NH) and with Uiso(H) = 1.2 Ueq(CH, NH). The graphics
were drawn, and additional structural calculations were performed by the DIAMOND [49] software.
Crystallographic data has been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
under CCDC deposition number 1957819. Copies of this information may be obtained free of charge
from the Director, CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EY, UK (fax: +44-1223-336033; e-mail:
deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk or www:http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk).
3.3. Cell Cultivation
THP1-Blue™ NF-κB cell line was purchased from Invivogen (San Diego, CA, USA). Cells were
cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) containing stabilized 2 mM l-glutamine
(Merck) supplemented with antibiotics [100 U/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL streptomycin (Merck)]
and 10% FBS (Merck). The cultures were passaged twice a week. Cells were kept in an incubator at
37 ◦C in a water-saturated atmosphere of air containing 5% CO2.
The viability of the used cell lines (5th–18th passage) was over 95% for each experiment. The cell
number and viability were determined by staining with Trypan Blue solution. Cells were counted
manually using a haemocytometer and an optical microscope. Cells that remained unstained were
considered viable, while light red cells were considered non-viable. The viability percentage was
calculated as the ratio of the number of all viable cells to the number of all cells.
3.4. Cell Viability Determination
The cell viability was determined as was described previously [50]. Briefly, THP1-Blue
cells (500,000 cells/mL) were washed by PBS, resuspended in a serum-free RPMI 1640 medium and
seeded into 96-well plates (100 L/well, i.e., 50,000 cells per each well). After 2 h, tested compounds
(30–0.47 M) dissolved in DMSO were added to the cells. The final concentration of DMSO was 0.1%
™ NF-κB
µ
µ
(v/v) in each well. Measurements were taken after 24 h incubation with the tested substances. Viability
was measured by the Cell Proliferation Reagent kit WST-1 (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland)
according to the manufacturer’s manual. The amount of formazan formed, which corresponded to the
number of metabolically active cells in the culture, was calculated as a percentage of the control cells,
which were treated only with serum-free RPMI 1640 medium and were assigned as 100%. The IC50
values were calculated by four-parameter logistic (4PL) analysis from obtained viability curves.
3.5. Determination of NF-κB Activity
The activity of NF-
previously [50 51]. Briefly, cells were transferred into serum-free RPMI 1640 medium as was delineated
above in Section 3.4. All tested compounds were added 2 h later in non-toxic concentration 2
but compounds 10 11, and 13 in concentration 0.5 M. After 1 h of incubation of the treated cells
with the samples, cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli 0111:B4 (Merck)
dissolved in serum-free RPMI 1640 medium (1 g/mL). After 24 h of incubation, 20 L of cultivation
medium was mixed with 200 L of Quanti-Blue medium (Invivogen) and incubated according to the
manufacturer’s instructions at 37 ◦C for 30–40 min. The activity of NF-
B was determined as secretion
κB transcription factors was evaluated on THP1-Blue™ NF-κB cells as described
,
µM
,
µ
µ
µ
µ
™
κ
of embryonic alkaline phosphatase spectrophotometrically in a Tecan Infinite M200 (Tecan, Männedorf
Switzerland) at 650 nm and compared with an untreated control (100%).
3.6. Immunocytochemical Analysis of NF-κB Nuclear Migration
To differentiate THP1-Blue
with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) at the final concentration of 50 ng/mL, as was described
previously [51 52]. Cells were seeded into 8-well cell culture glass slide (SPL, Korea) at the concentration
™ NF-κB monocytes into macrophages, the cells were stimulated
,

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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of 500,000 cells/mL, 150,000 cells per well. The compound 17 was added at the final concentration of
M, and 1 h later, the cells were activated by LPS (1 g/mL). After 1h, the culture slide was washed
2
µ
µ
with PBS and fixed with 4% formaldehyde. The cells were permeabilized by 0.1% Triton X-100 (v/v;
Merck) and blocked with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA, Merck) dissolved in PBS. The primary
antibody NF-κB p65 (Abcam, Cambridge, UK; product No. ab16502) at concentration 2.5 µg/mL was
used for overnight incubation at 4 ◦C. After that, secondary anti-rabbit antibody labeled with Alexa
Fluor® 488 (Cell Signaling; product No. 4412; dilution 1:1000) was added for 1 h in dark, and the
nuclei were stained using 0,5 µg/mL DAPI (Merck) for 5 min. The wells were washed three-times
between the mentioned steps with PBS. The coverslip was mounted with VectaShield mounting (Vector
laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) medium and sealed with the nail polish. The nail polish was
allowed to dry at 4 ◦C and the translocation of NF-κB was observed by fluorescence microscopy.
3.7. Signaling Pathway Analysis
The level of IkB and the amount of activated (phosphorylated) mitogen-activated protein (MAP)
kinase p38, ERK1/2, and JNK was determined on the THP1-Blue
described previously [53]. Briefly, cells cultivated in serum-free medium were pretreated with the tested
compounds ( 17, cinnamic acid, or prednisone) at concentration 2 M. One hour later, 1 g/mL of LPS
™ NF-κB, in a way similar to that
8,
µ
µ
was added, and after 30 min the cells were collected into ice-cold Mammalian Cell Lysis Buffer (Abcam,
Cambridge, UK) with phosphatase inhibitors PhosSTOP (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Cell lysates
were centrifuged 3000 g/5 min/4 ◦C and supernatants were mixed with 5
×
Laemmli reducing buffer
-mercaptolethanol, 0.04% (w/v)
bromphenol blue], and incubated at 95 ◦C for 5 min. To separate the proteins, 10
g of the proteins was
[250 mM Tris-HCl pH 6.8, 10% (w/v) SDS, 30% (v/v) glycerol, 5% (v/v)
β
µ
loaded onto a 12% polyacrylamide gel and then transferred electrophoretically to PVDF (polyvinylidene
fluoride) membranes that were subsequently blocked using 5% BSA dissolved in TBST buffer [150
mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris base, and 0.1% (v/v) Tween-20]. The membranes were incubated at 4 ◦C for
16 h with primary anti-IkB-α (Cell Signaling; product No. 4814; dilution 1:1,000), anti-p44/42 MAPK
(ERK1/2) (Cell Signaling; product No. 9102; dilution 1:1,000), anti-phospho-p44/42 MAPK (ERK1/2)
(Cell Signaling; product No. 9101; dilution 1:1,000), anti-JNK1/2/3 (Abcam; product No. ab179461;
dilution 1:1,000), anti-phosho-JNK1/2/3 (Abcam; product No. ab76572; dilution 1:5,000), anti-p38 MAPK
(Cell Signaling; product No. 8690; dilution 1:1,000), anti-phospho-p38 MAPK (Cell Signaling; product
No. 9210; dilution 1:1,000), and anti-β-actin (Santa Cruz, Aachen, Germany; product No. sc-47778;
dilution 1:5000) antibodies. After washing, the secondary anti-mouse and anti-rabbit IgG antibodies
(Cell Signaling, products No. 7076S and 7074P2) were diluted 1:2000 and applied to the membranes,
which were incubated for 1 h at the laboratory temperature. The amount of bound secondary antibody
was determined using WesternSure® PREMIUM Chemiluminescent Substrate (LI-COR, Lincoln, NE,
USA). Chemiluminescence was detected using a LI-COR C-DiGit chemiluminescence imaging system
(LI-COR).
3.8. Differentiation Monocytes into Macrophages and Evaluation of TNF-α Secretion
Differentiated THP1-Blue
M solutions of the tested compounds
™
NF-
κ
B macrophages (see the chapter 3.6) were pre-treated for 1 h with
12 17, cinnamic acid, and prednisone dissolved in DMSO,
2
µ
8
,
, 6,
or only the vehicle [0.1% (v/v) DMF solution]. The inflammatory-like response was triggered by adding
1 µg/mL of LPS from E. coli 0111:B4 (Sigma-Aldrich) to the pre-treated macrophages; the control cells
were left without LPS treatment. After 24 h, the supernatants were collected and the concentration of
TNF-α was measured using a Human TNF-α ELISA Kit (Diaclone, Besançon, France), according to the
manufacturer’s manual.
3.9. Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was carried out in GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 (San Diego, CA, USA). Outliers were
identified by the ROUT statistical method (Q = 5%) and excluded for further analysis. Data were

Molecules 2019, 24, 4531
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expressed as mean
±
SEM. Groups were compared with the help of the one-way ANOVA test followed
by Fisher’s LSD multiple comparison test. The value p < 0.05 was assigned as statistically significant.
4. Conclusions
A series of eighteen ring-substituted N-arylcinnamanilides was designed. The molecular
structure of (2E)-N-(2-bromo-5-fluorophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (15) as a model compound
was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All the compounds were screened for their
anti-inflammatory potential at the pharmacologically relevant, non-toxic concentration of 2
only least viable compounds 10 (R = 3,4-Cl), 11 (R = 3,5-Cl), and 13 (3,5-CF3), which IC50 ranged from
2.17 to 6.28 M on THP1-Blue NF- B cell line, were tested at the concentration level of 0.5 M. It seems
µM,
µ
™
κ
µ
0
0
that cell viability is mainly affected by di-substitution on the C(3,5) or C(3,4) positions by Cl and/or
CF3, i.e., groups with highly lipophilic and strong electron-withdrawing properties. Thus, although
it would be advantageous to obtain compounds with both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
activity, compounds 10
cytotoxic effect. Most tested compounds significantly attenuated the LPS-induced NF-
,
11, and 13 were excluded from further study because of this undesirable
B activation.
κ
They were more potent than the parental cinnamic acid. (2E)-N-[2-Chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-
3-phenylprop-2-enamide (17), (2E)-N-(2,6-dibromophenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (12), and (2E)-N-
(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-phenyl-prop-2-enamide (
that was comparable with prednisone. Compounds 12 and 17 also decreased the level of TNF-
which correlates with the observed attenuation of NF- B. On the other hand, subsequent tests showed
that the investigated compounds did not affect I level and MAPKs activity as expected. Based
on above-mentioned fact, it can be hypothesized that the investigated N-arylcinnamanilides may
have a different mode of action, which may consist of the nuclear translocation of NF- B inhibition,
8) demonstrated the highest activity within the series
α
,
κ
κBα
κ
or affect its binding to DNA, or act by epigenetic regulation, while the combinations of these effects
are not excluded. In conclusion, it can be stated that anti-inflammatory activity (while minimizing
antiproliferative activity) is positively influenced by di-substitution on the C(2,5)0 or C(2,6)0 positions
by rather lipophilic and preferably bulky moieties that causes the anilide ring to rotate, resulting in a
non-planar configuration of the entire system, as confirmed by the crystal structure.
Supplementary Materials: The supplementary materials are available online.
ˇ
Author Contributions: J.K. and T.S. synthesized the compounds. P.Š. characterized the compounds. J.H. and L.C.
performed biological screening. Z.T. and J.V. performed X-Ray study. J.J. designed the compounds. J.H., Z.T., J.J.
and F.D. wrote the paper.
Funding: This study was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV-17-0373) and by
the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (LO1305). Knowledge gained within project
ITMS 26240120034 of the Center of Excellence in Security Research (CEBV) has been used in the results.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds are available from the authors.
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