Molecular docking and Anticancer Activity of Some Synthesized 1,4- naphthoquinone Derivatives against Human Cancer Cell Line

•2-amino-4H-naphthopyran-3-carbonitrile (1–16a) derivatives and 2-amino-4H-naphthopyran-3-carbonitrile (17–19b) derivatives were synthesized and characterized.•Derivatives 5a, 1a, 2a, 7a, 12a, 6a, 8a, and 9a exhibited the highest anticancer activity against human colon colorectal (HCT116).•Molecular docking study indicated that anticancer activities of derivatives were potentially through inhibition of human CK-2 kinase. A series of 2-amino-4H-naphthopyran-3-carbonitrile (1–16a) derivatives and 2-amino-4H-naphthopyran-3-carbonitrile (17–19b) derivatives were synthesized and were assessed for their anticancer activities. Spectroscopic analysis including 1HNMR , 13C–NMR, FTIR, and HR-MS were used in derivatives identification. A preliminary in vitro anticancer activity screening against the human colon cancer cell line (HCT116) was evaluated. Although all derivatives reveal high anticancer activities against human colon cancer cell line (HCT116), derivatives 5a, 1a, 2a, 7a, 12a, 6a, 8a, and 9a exhibited the highest activity. The effect of the ring substitution and fusion was studied, and a preliminary structure activity relationship was drawn that correlate the structure with the anticancer activity of the synthesized derivatives. The results were further supported with molecular docking against human tyrosine kinase CK-2 where they showed good correlation between the activity and the predicted binding interactions and affinity. The results suggest our compounds are expressing their anticancer activity potentially through inhibition of human CK-2 kinase. [Display omitted]