Anticancer effects of synthetic hexahydrobenzo [g]chromen-4-one derivatives on human breast cancer cell lines

Mahboobeh Pordeli, Maryam Nakhjiri, Maliheh Safavi, Sussan Kabudanian Ardestani, Alireza Foroumadi

Cancer results from a series of molecular changes that alter the normal function of cells. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. To develop novel anticancer agents, new series of chromen derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines. The growth inhibitory activities of synthesized hexahydrobenzo chromen-4-one were screened against six human cancer cell lines using an in vitro cell culture system (MTT assay). Fluorochrome staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining) and DNA fragmentation by the diphenylamine method were used to investigate the effects of most potent compounds on the process of apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines. To determine the mechanism of apoptosis, ROS and NOX production in treated breast cancer cells with compounds was evaluated. The cytotoxicity data of tested compounds demonstrate these compounds had varying degree of toxicity. Compound 7h was the most potent compound with IC50 = 1.8 ± 0.6 µg/mL against T-47D cell line. Analyses of the compounds treated (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T-47D) cells by acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining and DNA fragmentation by the diphenylamine method showed that the synthetic compounds induce apoptosis in the cells. A significant increase in ROS production was observed in T-47D cells treated with IC50 value of compound 7g. Incubation with IC50 value of synthetic compounds increased the NOX production in cell lines, especially T-47D cells. Our results show that most compounds have a significant anti-proliferative activity against six human cancer cell lines. The observations confirm that chromen derivatives have induced the cell death through apoptosis.