Synthesis and evaluation of linear furanocoumarins as potential anti-breast and anti-prostate cancer agents

A series of 22 furanocoumarin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines along with normal cell line. Several analogs were synthesized by replacing prenyl moiety with alkyl, aromatic, and heteroaromatic functionality to study the structure-activity relationship. Compounds 20 and 22 with adamantoylamino, diprenylamino and substituted benzene sulfonamide substituents showed potent antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 cell line with IC50 values of 0.48 and 0.53 A mu M, respectively. Both the compounds showed higher IC50 value in MCF-10A cell lines indicating nontoxicity in normal cell lines.