Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridazino[1',6':1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indolinium and pyridazino[1,6-a]benzimidazolium salts as anti-inflammatory agents.

Condensed polycyclic heteroaromatic cations bearing a bridgehead nitrogen with pyridazino[1',6':1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indolinium and pyridazino[1,6-a]benzimidazolium structures were assayed as inhibitors of LPS-induced TNF-α production by THP-1 cells. The hit compound 1e, which had the best IC50 value (4.49 μM) and low toxicity, was further assayed on human PMBCs (IC50 3.