dibenzalacetone

Dibenzalacetone (also known as dibenzylideneacetone or DBA) is a synthetic curcumin analog and an α,β-unsaturated ketone with a 1,5-diaryl-3-oxo-1,4-pentadienyl pharmacophore. It acts as a Michael acceptor that can covalently react with nucleophilic thiol groups in various biological targets. Dibenzalacetone has been investigated for its broad-spectrum pharmacological properties, including anticancer, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. In oncology research, particularly in medulloblastoma and oral cancer models, dibenzalacetone inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and survival, and induces apoptosis, a process associated with the downregulation and inhibition of the transcription factor Specificity Protein 1 (Sp1). Additionally, it has been shown to inhibit fungal chitinase and the Leishmania donovani Rab6 GTPase, and is historically utilized as an ultraviolet (UV) absorber in sunscreen formulations.

Other names

1,5-diphenyl-1,4-pentadien-3-one1,5-diphenylpenta-1,4-dien-3-oneDBAdibenzylidene acetonedibenzylideneacetonedistyryl ketone