Molecular recognition of synthesized halogenated chalcone by calf thymus DNA through multispectroscopic studies and analysis the anti-cancer, anti-bacterial activity of the compounds.

[Display omitted] • A selective fluorescence sensing of 1f, 1 h, 1i by ctDNA has been developed. • The thermodynamic parameters revealed the involvement of non-covalent interaction of 1f, 1 h, 1i with ctDNA. • Denaturations, comparative displacement assays, ionic strength, CD also reveal the groove binding nature of the 1f, 1 h, 1i. • The compounds 1f, 1 h, 1i were showed potent anticancer and antimicrobial activity against the cancer cell and model bacteria. The present study aims to elucidate the anti-cancer, antimicrobial activity of synthesized halogenated chalcones (1f, 1h, 1i) and their molecular interaction with calf thymus DNA. All the three compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic tools like FTIR, NMR. DFT and TDDFT computation were performed to support the structural and electronic parameter of the compounds. UV–vis absorbance, steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, circular dichroism, helix melting, molecular docking study reveals that the compounds (1f, 1h, 1i) actively interact with ctDNA via groove binding mode. The binding constants (K b) were calculated to be 1.29 × 104, 0.54 × 104 and 0.45 × 104 M−1 respectively for compounds 1f, 1h, 1i. The compounds were cytotoxic to almost every cell line (PC3, HeLa, A549, HCT116) tested, having minimal toxicity in normal NKE cell line, among which PC3 cells were more sensitive with an IC 50 value of 10 μM. The values were determined using dose response curve and found between 10 and 49 μM for cancer cells and 70 μM for normal cell. Compounds also cause apoptosis in PC3 cells, which was confirmed by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Results showed that 1f, 1h, 1i target DNA, to persuade DNA damage mediated cancer cell death. The inhibition zone was formed in the screening test indicating the anti-bacterial activity of 1f, 1h & 1i against model pathogenic bacteria. So the present communication provides quantitative insight of halo-chalcone based anti-cancerous and antimicrobial molecule involving relevant target nucleic acid, which holds future promise in the development of new therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]