Synthesis, molecular docking, and cytotoxic evaluation of benzophenone-based azo dyes against HepG2 liver carcinoma cell lines

Shoukat Ali R A, Amrutha, Divya G O, Kiran Kumar, Ganesh I R, Khushi Siri C N

A  series  of  novel  benzophenone-derived  novel  azo  dyes   (3c–3d)   were   successfully   synthesized through diazotization–coupling reactions and characterized using UV–visible, FTIR, ¹H NMR,  ¹³C  NMR,  and   LC–MS   spectral   analyses.   The   biological   potential   of   the   synthesized compounds was investigated through molecular docking and  in  vitro  cytotoxic  evaluation against HepG2 liver carcinoma cells. Docking  studies  revealed  favourable  ligand–  protein interactions, with compound 3d exhibiting the highest binding affinity  (−6.608 kcal/mol).  MTT assay results demonstrated  that  compound  3d  possessed  significant  cytotoxic  activity  with an IC₅₀ value of 40.65 µg/mL, whereas compound 3c showed comparatively lower activity (IC₅₀ = 

178.88 µg/mL). The observed cytotoxic response correlated well with the molecular docking results. The present study demonstrates the potential of benzophenone-based azo compounds as biologically active molecules with notable anticancer potential