3-Formylchromone based topoisomerase IIα inhibitors: discovery of potent leads

Substituted 3-formylchromones were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the human DNA topoisomerase IIα (hTopo-IIα) enzyme. The results of the decatenation, relaxation and DNA intercalation assays revealed that the compounds (11b, 12a, 12b, 12d, 12e, 13a and 13b) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against the hTopo-IIα enzyme, and are nonintercalating agents. These compounds also possess significant in vitro cytotoxicity (LC50 ranges from 0.5–8.6 μM) against prostate (PC-3) cancerous cell line as seen in comparison to the standard drug etoposide. To further probe the plausible mode of action of 3-formylchromone derivatives, molecular docking studies have also been carried out, which showed that the compounds under investigation fitted well in the ATP binding pocket of hTopo-IIα enzyme with good docking scores and form nonbonding interactions with the crucial residues of the catalytic site.