3, 9-di-O-substituted coumestrols incorporating basic amine side chains act as novel apoptosis inducers with improved pharmacological selectivity.

•Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of various 3, 9-di-O-substituted coumestols.•Improved antiproliferative activity and decreased estrogen activity of 7e.•G2/M cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis induced by 7e.•New biology of tubulin-targeted apoptosis inducer without estrogenic activity.