In the current study, we have explored 6‐substituted indolo[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3‐b]quinoxaline derivatives as potential cytotoxic agents. These compounds were readily prepared via the reaction of 2‐chloro‐3‐(2‐chloro‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)quinoxaline with an appropriate amine under ultrasound irradiation in good to acceptable yields. The in vitro testing of all these compounds against MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7 cell lines using a cell‐based assay and then against SIRT1 (or sirtuin 1) using an enzyme‐based assay was performed. The compound 3 a [i. e. 6‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)‐6,7‐dihydroindolo[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3‐b]quinoxaline] showed promising growth inhibition of both MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7 cell lines (61 and 54 % at 10 μM, respectively) and inhibition of SIRT1 (IC50∼2.09±0.40 μM in vitro). Moreover, molecular modelling studies indicated interaction of 3 a with several residues e. g. GLU345, ILE347, PHE273, ILE270, PHE312, PRO271, ILE279, ILE316 at the active site of SIRT1 with estimated total energy=−99.90 kcal/mol and the ADME prediction in silico suggested 3 a as a potential hit molecule.
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