New cinnamic acid-pregenolone hybrids as potential antiproliferative agents: design, synthesis and biological evaluation.

•A series of cinnamic acid-pregenolone hybrids was designed, synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity.•Compound 5f showed the antiproliferative activity against A549 via G1 cell cycle arrest and inducing apoptosis.•Compound 5f could stimulate A549 cells apoptosis through down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax.