Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel limonin derivatives as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents with high water solubility

A novel series of water-soluble derivatives of limonin were synthesized by introducing various tertiary amines onto the C (7)-position of limonin. Ten target compounds were characterized and screened for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in vivo. Compound 3c exhibited the strongest analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity among the limonin and its derivatives tested; its analgesic activity is more potent than that of aspirin and its anti-inflammatory activity is stronger than that of naproxen.