The current study highlights the in vitro
antioxidant and antitumor activity of the previously-synthesized
hydrazone derivatives against various
free radicals and human
cancer cell lines, respectively. The anticancer efficacies of the compound were tested by measuring cytotoxicity in
cancer cell lines HeLa, A549, and non-cancerous NL20 cells. Compounds possessing electron-donor methoxy and methyl substitutions at the para position of the phenyl ring moiety showed a concentration dependent
free radical scavenging effects. The
free radical-scavenging potential of synthetic compounds 11 and 14 may have significant impact on the prevention of
free radical-induced oxidative stress and
carcinogenesis. The results from cytotoxicity and cell migration assay showed that the substitution of electron-withdrawing fluoro, chloro and bromo functional groups induced a significant (P< 0.001) loss of cell viability and inhibited the invasive potential of the human
cancer cells. Additionally, these compounds showed significantly (P< 0.05) a less toxicity toward non-cancerous NL20 cells. Docking studies revealed interactions of compound 10 with p38α MAP
kinase, which may be responsible of its anti-invasive and anti-proliferative effects.