Synthesis and anticancer properties of phenyl benzoate derivatives possessing a terminal hydroxyl group.

To assess the cytotoxic effects on A549 human lung cancer cells, we investigated a liquid-crystalline compound possessing a terminal hydroxyl group at concentrations of 0.1-20 μM. The compound, 4-butylphenyl 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoate (2), showed marked cell-growth inhibition at concentrations higher than 5 μM.

A liquid crystal-related compound induces cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis in the A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cell line.

Liquid crystals are the state of matter existing between liquid and crystalline phases, and recently there has been increasing interest in their biological effects. Following our recently reported work, we investigated the cell suppressive effects of liquid crystal-related compounds (LCRCs), which are precursors of liquid crystals, in the human non-small lung cancer cell line A549. We found that 2-(4-butoxyphenyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidine (LCRC-1) dramatically suppressed cell growth.

Suppressive effects of liquid crystal compounds on the growth of U937 human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cells.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and pharmaceutical activities of 14 amphiphilic liquid-crystalline compounds (LCs), i.e, phenylpyrimidine derivatives possessing D-glucamine and cyanobiphenyl derivatives with a terminal hydroxyl unit.

Results: The cytotoxic properties of the LCs on the cell growth, cell cycle distribution, and cell signaling pathway of U937 human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cells were assessed by flow cytometry and western blot analysis.

Liquid crystal-related compound-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in the chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line.

Liquid crystals are the state of matter existing between the liquid and the crystalline phase, and there is a recent surging interest in its biological effects. Our previous study showed that liquid crystal-related compounds (LCRCs), which are precursors of the liquid crystal, enhanced hematopoietic differentiation at a relatively low concentration (Biol Pharm Bull, 32, 2009). However, biological potentials of LCRCs on tumor cells are unclear.

The promoting activity on human megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by liquid crystal-related compounds.

The liquid crystal compounds have a common structure with the cell membrane, having both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic residue, thus suggesting an affinity to the cell membrane. However, little information regarding a biological effect by liquid crystal compounds has been reported. In order to view the biological potential of liquid crystal compounds, the present study evaluated the in vitro human hematopoietic promoting effects by 18 liquid crystal-related compounds.