Synthesis of indirubin-N′-glycosides and their anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines

The first indirubin-N'-glycosides were prepared based on reactions of isatin-N'-glycosides with indoxyls. The products show a significant anti-proliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines. Good results were observed for an indirubin-N'-mannoside which was shown to have medium to high anti-proliferative activity against all investigated cell lines. The highest activities and selectivities against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line were observed for indirubin-N'-rhamnosides.