Phenethyl-based edelfosine-analogs with saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated alkoxy substituents on phenyl ring were designed as novel antitumor lipids modulating p38 MAPK. Evaluation of the synthesised compounds against nine panels of diverse cancer cells presented saturated and monounsaturated alkoxy-substituted derivatives as the most active than other derivatives. In addition,
ortho
-substituted compounds were more active than
meta
- or
ortho
-substituted compounds. They were potential anticancer agents against blood, lung, colon, CNS, ovary, renal, and prostate cancers but not against skin nor breast cancers. Compounds,
1b
and
1a
emerged as the most potential anticancer agents. Assessment of compound
1b
impact on p38 MAPK and AKT confirmed it as an inhibitor of p38 MAPK but not AKT.
In silico
study suggested compounds
1b
and
1a
as possible binders to the lipid binding pocket of p38 MAPK. Overall, compounds
1b
and
1a
as novel broad spectrum antitumor lipids modulating activity of p38 MAPK for further development.
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