Natural product-inspired synthesis of coumarin-chalcone hybrids as potential anti-breast cancer agents

• Main Authors: Nabil A. Alhakamy (Author), Mohammad Saquib (Author), Sanobar (Author), Mohammad Faheem Khan (Author), Waseem Ahmad Ansari (Author), Deema O. Arif (Author), Mohammad Irfan (Author), Mohammad Imran Khan (Author), Mohd Kamil Hussain (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Twelve novel neo-tanshinlactone-chalcone hybrid molecules were constructed through a versatile methodology involving the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination of 4-formyl-2H-benzo [h]chromen-2-ones and phosphonic acid diethyl esters, as the key step, and evaluated for anticancer activity against a series of four breast cancers and their related cell lines, viz. MCF-7 (ER + ve), MDA-MB-231 (ER-ve), HeLa (cervical cancer), and Ishikawa (endometrial cancer). The title compounds showed excellent to moderate in vitro anti-cancer activity in a range of 6.8-19.2 µM (IC50). Compounds 30 (IC50 = 6.8 µM and MCF-7; IC50 = 8.5 µM and MDA-MB-231) and 31 (IC50 = 14.4 µM and MCF-7; IC50 = 15.7 µM and MDA-MB-231) exhibited the best activity with compound 30 showing more potent activity than the standard drug tamoxifen. Compound 30 demonstrated a strong binding affinity with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in molecular docking studies. This is significant because TNFα is linked to MCF-7 cancer cell lines, and it enhances luminal breast cancer cell proliferation by upregulating aromatase. Additionally, virtual ADMET studies confirmed that hybrid compounds 30 and 31 met Lipinski's rule; displayed high bioavailability, excellent oral absorption, favorable albumin interactions, and strong penetration capabilities; and improved blood-brain barrier crossing. Based on the aforementioned results, compound 30 has been identified as a potential anti-breast cancer lead molecule.

Item Description

1663-9812
10.3389/fphar.2023.1231450