Neuroprotective and Antineuroinflammatory Effects of Hydroxyl-Functionalized Stilbenes and 2‑Arylbenzo[b]furans

The drugs currently used to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are limited in the benefits they confer, and no medication has been clearly proven to cure or delay the progression of AD. Most candidate AD drugs are meant to reduce the production, aggregation, and toxicity of amyloid β (Aβ) or to promote Aβ clearance. Herein, we demonstrate the efficient synthesis of hydroxyl-functionalized stilbene and 2-arylbenzo­[b]­furan derivatives and report on the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of these phenolic compounds in vitro and in an animal model. Structure–activity relationships revealed that the presence of an acrylate group on 2-arylbenzo­[b]­furan confers neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, compounds 11 and 37 in this study showed particular potential for development as disease-modifying anti-Alzheimer’s drugs, based on their neuroprotective effects on neuron cells, their antineuroinflammatory effects on glial cells, and the ability to ameliorate nesting behavior in APP/PS1 mice. These results indicate that 2-arylbenzo­[b]­furans could be candidate compounds for the treatment of AD.