2-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) and curcumin have been reported to have antitumor effects against
various human tumor cells in vitro and in vivo by generation of ROS. Aldehyde-free HCA analogs were
synthesized based on the structure of curcumin, which we have called 2-hydroxycurcuminoids. The
hydroxyl group of curcuminoids enhances the ability to generate ROS. 2-Hydroxycurcuminoid (HCC-7)
strongly inhibited the growth of SW620 colon tumor cells with a GI50 value of 7 lM, while the parent
compounds, HCA and curcumin, displayed GI50 values of 12 and 30 lM, respectively. HCC-7 was found
to induce apoptosis through the reactive oxygen species–mitochondria pathway and cell cycle arrest
at G2/M phase.