A new Schiff base derived from 3-formylchromone and benzohydrazide (Hfcbh) and its Ni(II), Zn(II), Ru(II), Ru(III), Pd(II), Pt(II) and Ag(I) complexes were synthesized. These compounds were characterized on the basis of physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Two modes of chelation for Hfcbh are reported: (1) neutral tridentate ligand through the chromone carbonyl oxygen, hydrazonic carbonyl oxygen and azomethine nitrogen atoms and (2) mononegative tridentate ligand via the chromone carbonyl oxygen, hydrazonic deprotonated hydroxy oxygen and azomethine nitrogen atoms. Free Hfcbh and its Ni(II), Zn(II), Ag(I), Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes have been tested as anticancer agents against the human breast cancer (MDA-MB231) and human ovarian cancer (OVCAR-8) cell lines. The [Ag(fcbh)(PPh 3 )] complex shows the highest efficacy with a mean IC 50 values of 1.0 (MDA-MB231) and 0.87 (OVCAR-8) lM, respectively.