Discovery of Alkyl Triphenylphosphonium Pinostrobin Derivatives as Potent Anti-Breast Cancer Agents.

Pinostrobin demonstrated anticancer properties, but its hydrophobic feature led to a reduction in bioavailability. The mitochondria-targeted approach successfully synthesized eight new alkyl triphenylphosphonium pinostrobin derivatives (1-8) with good yield in this study. Seven compounds (1-3, 5-8) showed greater cytotoxic potency against the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line than pinostrobin. Molecular docking studies were performed with two important targets in hormone-dependent anticancer strategies, estrogen receptor α (ERα) ligand binding domains, 3ERT (antagonist recognition and antiproliferative function), and 1GWR (agonist recognition and pro-proliferative function). In addition, the MD simulation study of the two most potent compounds (2 and 3) complexed with both ERα forms suggested that compounds 2 and 3 could serve as favourable antagonists. Furthermore, the in silico ADMET prediction indicated that compounds 2 and 3 could be potential drug candidates.