harnessing green chemistry for anticancer drug discovery: knoevenagel condensation with renewable catalysts

A green, solvent-free knoevenagel condensation protocol was developed using renewable catalysts—aqueous extracts of banana and orange peels, and l-tyrosine—for the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds. two eco-friendly methods were employed: fruit peel-based catalysis and grinding technique (mechanochemical method) using tyrosine with tyrosine. sixty-three reactions yielded 21 distinct products, which were structurally characterized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against mcf-7 breast cancer cells. mcf-7 cells were selected as a well-established model for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, widely used in cytotoxicity screening of anticancer agents. compounds bearing hydroxyl and methoxy groups at para or meta positions showed enhanced anti-cancer activity, while ortho-substitution reduced efficacy due to steric hindrance. derivatives with extended conjugation, such as cinnamaldehyde analogs, exhibited increased bioactivity. the methodology offers operational simplicity, high yields, and environmental benefits, highlighting its potential for sustainable drug discovery. future work may explore broader biological applications and in vivo assessments.