Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of menthylamine derivatives: Focusing on the potent inhibitory effect of compound W8 on glioma growth.

In this work, we successfully synthesized eight distinct compounds, comprising four chiral menthylamines and related derivatives. We evaluated their cytotoxic potential against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including human colon cancer HCT-116 cells, human esophageal squamous KYSE-150 cells, human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and human glioma U87 cells. The U87 cells were chosen for a more in-depth investigation of their anti-tumor efficacy. Further exploration of the cytotoxicity mechanisms was conducted, complemented by in vivo studies using mice bearing tumors. These analyses unveiled the possible mechanisms by which menthylamide derivatives exert their anti-tumor effects. Notably, compound W8 demonstrated a potent inhibitory action against the proliferation of brain glioma cells. The findings from this research provide valuable insights that pave the way for the future application of menthylamides in cancer therapeutics.