Newly synthesized lanthanides complexes of ferrocene-based Schiff base with high biological activities and improved molecular docking data

•Newly synthesized lanthanides complexes of ferrocene-based Schiff base.•These metal complexes were characterized using different spectroscopic, elemental analysis and thermal analysis.•Biological and anticancer activities were tested and promising activities.•Molecular docking was studied on two different proteins receptors of breast cancer mutant oxidoreductase (3HB5) and colon cancer isomerase (2HQ6).•Yb(III) complex can be used as breast and colon cancer drugs.