EGFR, HER2 target based molecular docking analysis, in vitro screening of 2, 4, 5-trisubstituted imidazole derivatives as potential anti-oxidant and cytotoxic agents

In our endeavor towards the development of potent molecules for cancer diseases, we have designed and synthesized a series of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole derivatives (B1-B24) and characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques. All these compounds are further evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer, anti-oxidant activities and molecular docking studies against EGFR, HER2 protein receptors. The in vitro anti-cancer activity analysis reveals that compounds B11 and B16 were found to be effective scaffolds against the tested human cancer cell lines IMR-32, A549 and HeLa. Particularly, B16 and B11 showed effective cytotoxicity against A549 and IMR-32 with IC50 values of 09.521 +/- 0.54 mu M and 10.294 +/- 0.43 mu M, respectively. Moreover, compounds B17, B18 and B23 showed potent activity towards the anti-oxidant screening with IC50 values of 5.87 +/- 1.73 mu M, 6.29 +/- 1.27 pM and 4.95 +/- 1.81 mu M, respectively compared to standard ascorbic acid. Molecular docking was performed against the EGFR, HER2 protein receptors to provide more insight into their mechanism of interaction by comparing with standard EGFR, HER2 inhibitors like Gefitinib (EFGR), Lapatanib (EGFR), Afitinib (HER2) and Canertinib (HER2). Compounds B15, B16, B11 and B10 were exhibiting their minimum binding energies. Out of the aforementioned docked molecules, B15 and B16 showed the best binding energies of -11.15 kcal mol(-1), -10.70 kcal mol(-1) and -10.49 kcal mol(-1), -10.12 kcal mol(-1) against EGFR and HER2 protein receptors, respectively. The molecular docking results are well corroborated with the in vitro anti-cancer activity finding.