Abyssinones and related flavonoids as potential steroidogenesis modulators.

Abyssinones and related flavonoids were screened against 3 enzymes (3betaHSD, 17betaHSD and Aromatase) of steroidogenesis pathway. The virtual screening experiment shows high affinity for flavonones than their respective chalcones. A 4' -OH blocked prenylated flavonone 2b (2-(2', 2'-dimethyl chroman-6'-yl)-7-hydroxy chroman-4-one) had consistent binding affinity to all the three enzymes used in this study showing higher binding affinity to aromatase. A good correlation was observed between cytotoxic data (MCF-7, breast cancer cell line) and docking results indicating flavonone as a better steroidogenesis modulator in hormone dependent cancer.