The discovery of potent anti-inflammatory agents through inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) blocking has been proven to be an important game changer in pharmaceutical industry in recent years. In this study, new chalcone derivative has been successfully synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction. The compound was then docked into mPGES-1 active site to predict anti-inflammatory properties through ligand-enzyme interaction investigation. The data collected from in silico molecular docking simulation and pharmacophore modeling studies provide important insight on the molecular conformation and further shed light towards structural modification of the future novel mPGES-1 inhibitor.

The first total syntheses of seiricuprolide and pestalotioprolide B, rare 14-membered α,β-unsaturated macrolides embedding a chiral epoxide motif, were achieved in 17 steps with 1.9 % and 1.6 % overall yields, respectively. Our synthesis featured the key Shiina macrolactonization to construct the 14-membered macrocyclic skeleton, Wittig olefination to generate the (E)-α,βunsaturated ester and selective reduction of advanced chiral propargylic alcohol intermediate to enable the exclusive formation of Z-or E-olefin at C8À C9. Synthetic seiricuprolide and pestalotioprolide B were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against the HCT116 colon cancer cell line as well as their inhibitory effect on CFTR chloride channel activity in human intestinal epithelial (T84) cells. Preliminary structure-activity relationship suggested that the C5À C6 β-epoxide moiety suppressed both biological activities.