4β-[4′-(1-(Aryl)ureido)benzamide]podophyllotoxins as DNA topoisomerase I and IIα inhibitors and apoptosis inducing agents

A series of new 4β-[4′-(1-(aryl)urea)benzamido]podophyllotoxin congeners (11a-l) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against six human cancer cell lines. Among them, compounds 11a, 11h, 11k and 11l showed significant inhibitory activities on DNA topoisomerase I and IIα, strong G1 cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis, and these results are supported by molecular docking studies.