Structural characterization, electronic properties, and anxiolytic-like effect in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) of cinnamaldehyde chalcone

•Chalcone (2E, 4E) −1- (2‑hydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)−5-phenylpenta-2,4‑dien‑1-one, was synthesized from natural products 2‑hydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone and cinnamaldehyde.•The molecular structure of this compound was confirmed by spectroscopic methods like NMR, FT-IR, UV–VIS.•The anxiolytic-like effect in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) of the cinnamaldehyde chalcone was evaluated.•The chalcone caused reduction in zebrafish locomotor activity and induced maximum permanece of zebrafish in the clear zone.•The cinnamaldehyde chalcone has anxiolytic activity. Zebrafish is a model animal that is used for neurobehavioral studies. It is an excellent model organism for pharmacological studies and/or safety research at an early stage of drug development. In this work, the chalcone (2E, 4E)-1-(2‑hydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)-5-phenylpenta-2,4‑dien‑1-one, was synthesized by the Claisen-Schmidt condensation from two natural products: 2‑hydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone and cinnamaldehyde. The molecular structure of this compound was confirmed by spectroscopic methods such as NMR, Infrared, UV–vis, and quantum chemical calculations. In addition, the anxiolytic-like effect of the cinnamaldehyde chalcone in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) was evaluated. The results showed that chalcone caused an approximately 80% reduction in zebrafish locomotor activity and induced maximum permanence of zebrafish in the clear zone (61.16%) at a dose of 0.5 mg kgl−1. The data suggest that the cinnamaldehyde chalcone has anxiolytic activity. [Display omitted]