title: Recent progress in therapeutic applications of chalcones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chalcones are a group of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds belonging to the flavonoids family that possess a wide variety of cytoprotective and modulatory functions, which may have therapeutic potential for multiple diseases. Their physicochemical properties seem to define the extent of their biological activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive synopsis of recent patent literature (2005 - 2011) describing chalcones and their derivatives on selected activities (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antimitotic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-infection) is provided in this paper. Synthesis, combinatorial techniques, biological evaluation in vitro/in vivo, and new biological assays are discussed. In addition to selected biological data, a wide range of pharmaceutical applications and pharmaceutical compositions are also summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several natural and synthetic chalcones and their derivatives appear as promising anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Their clinical evaluation will be critical to assess their therapeutic utility. Those for which the mechanism of action is well defined can serve as lead compounds for the design of new, more promising molecules.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Katsori
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadjipavlou-Litina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047188:Chalcones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047188:Chalcones