Synthesis and Biological Studies of Aurones Derivatives for its Anticancer Potential

Aurone based compounds exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential and documented for their anticancer potential. The anticancer potential of aurone derivatives AU3, AU4, AU5, AU7, and AU10 is yet to be studied against breast cancer.

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the anticancer potential of aurone based test compounds AU3, AU4, AU5, AU7, and AU10 in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7.

The azaindole based aurones were synthesized by the condensing 4,6-dimethoxybenzofuran-3(2H)-one derivative with various indole aldehydes in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was used to assess the cytotoxic effects of these compounds. Molecular docking studies of the synthesized compounds against the Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/Cyclin A complex were conducted.

Our experimental findings demonstrated that AU3, AU4, AU5, AU7, and AU10 elicited significant effects on MCF-7 by virtue of its minimum cell viability, with IC50 values of 70.14 μM, 87.85 μM, 133.21 μM, 52.79 μM, and 99.55 μM, respectively, thus, exhibits potential anticancer action. Further, to corroborate the anticancer potential, we investigated mechanisms of action through molecular docking studies with the CDK2/Cyclin A complex (PDB: 6GUC) and their findings demonstrated that test compounds showed robust binding through various interactions, including hydrogen bonds, Pi-interactions, and Alkyl bonds with key residues such as Lys129, Asp127, Gln131, and Asp145. Test compounds AU3 and AU7, exhibited better binding affinities and diverse interaction profiles, suggesting a potent disruption of CDK2/Cyclin A activity.

Thus, in conclusion, our findings revealed that AU3, AU4, AU5, AU7, and AU10 elicited anticancer action and their effects through CDK2/Cyclin A disruption.