The cytotoxicity of compounds 1–3 against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), human colon carcinoma (WiDr), human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) and human medulloblastoma (Daoy) cell lines was studied, and the ability of 1–3 to inhibit the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) proteins in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells was also examined. This evidence concerns the gene PTGS2 and laryngeal carcinoma.