Synthesis and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of arylfurans

A series of 2-aryl and 2,5-diarylfurans were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cells lines and on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with phytohemaglutinin (PHA). Three compounds were found to present significant activity against the cancer cell lines without affecting the lymphocyte proliferation in PBMCs, indicating low toxicity to normal cells.