Substituted cinnamides: Characterization of non-toxic inhibitors of alpha-synuclein aggregation

Four substituted cinnamides were studied as potential inhibitors of alpha-synuclein aggregation. (E)-3-[3-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)acrylamido]benzoic acid (SMB11) was shown to inhibit amyloid fibril formation of recombinant human alpha-synuclein according to Congo Red and partial proteolysis by proteinase K assays. This compound and its analog with 3-trifluoromethylphenyl substituent demonstrated no cytotoxicity on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.