Discovery of benzochromene derivatives first example with dual cytotoxic activity against the resistant cancer cell MCF-7/ADR and inhibitory effect of the P-glycoprotein expression levels

A series of 1H-benzo[f]chromene moieties (4a–z) were synthesised under Ultrasonic irradiation and confirmed with spectral analyses. Derivative 4i solely possessed an X-ray single crystal. The anti-proliferative efficacy of the desired molecules has been explored against three cancer cells: MCF-7, HCT-116, and HepG-2 with the cytotoxically active derivatives screened against MCF-7/ADR and normal cells HFL-1 and WI-38. Furthermore, compounds 4b–d, 4k, 4n, 4q, and 4w, which possessed good potency against MCF-7/ADR, were tested as permeability glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein [P-gp]) expression inhibitors. The attained data confirmed that 4b–d, 4q, and 4w exhibited strong expression inhibition against the P-gp alongside its cytotoxic effect on MCF-7/ADR. The western blot results and Rho123 accumulation assays showed that compounds 4b–d, 4q, and 4w effectively inhibited the P-gp expression and efflux function. Meanwhile, 4b–d, 4q, and 4w induced apoptosis and accumulation of the treated MCF-7/ADR cells in the G1 phase and 4k and 4n in the S phase of the cell cycle.