Design and synthesis of novel imidazole-chalcone derivatives as microtubule protein polymerization inhibitors to treat cervical cancer and reverse cisplatin resistance

Using the licochalcone moiety as a lead compound scaffold, 16 novel imidazole-chalcone derivatives were designed and synthesized as microtubule protein polymerization inhibitors. The proliferation inhibitory activities of the derivatives against SiHa (human cervical squamous cell carcinoma), C-33A (human cervical cancer), HeLa (human cervical cancer), HeLa/DDP (cisplatin-resistant human cervical cancer), and H8 (human cervical epithelial immortalized) cells were evaluated. Compound 5a exhibited significant anticancer activity with IC