Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of novel steroidal chalcones with 3β-pregnenolone ester derivatives in RAW 264.7 cells in vitro

•This study provided a novel, efficient and simple synthesis of a new family of steroidal chalcone derivatives of 20-keto 3β-3-phenyl acrylate -pregn-5-enes.•The structures of all targeted synthesized compounds had been characterized.•The anti-inflammatory biological activity of targeted synthesized compounds was assayed.•In vitro activity assay screened compound 11e with excellent anti-inflammatory biological activity and low cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells.