Novel benzo chromene derivatives: design, synthesis, molecular docking, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis induction in human acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells

A series of benzo[h]chromenes, benzo[f]chromenes, and benzo[h]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidines were prepared. All the newly synthesised compounds were selected by National Cancer Institute for single-dose testing against 60 cell lines. Benzo[h]chromenes 5a and 6a showed promising anti-cancer activity and selected for the five-dose testing. Compounds 5a and 6a suppressed cell growth in HL-60 by the induction of cell cycle arrest, which was confirmed using flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC/PI assays showed at the G1/S phase by regulating the expression of CDK-2/CyclinD1, triggering cell apoptosis by activating both the extrinsic (Fas/Caspase 8) and intrinsic (Bcl-2/Caspase 3) apoptosis pathways, which were determined by the western blot. Benzo[h]chromenes 5a and 6a decreased the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, CDK-2, and CyclinD1 and increased the expression of caspase 3, caspase 8, and Fas. In silico molecular analysis of compounds 5a and 6a in CDK-2 and Bcl-2 was performed.