AbstractFour new heteroleptic silver(I) complexes with the general formula [Ag(L1–4)(nap)] (1–4), where L1–4 = 2-(1-(4-substitutedphenyl)ethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide and nap = naproxen, have been synthesized and characterized. The geometric parameters determined from density functional theory and UV-Vis studies indicate distorted tetrahedral geometry around silver(I) ion. Fourier transform infrared (FT IR) spectra evidenced asymmetric bidentate coordination mode of carboxyl oxygen atoms of naproxen with silver(I) ion. The complexes are stable for 72 h and biocompatibility was analysed towards normal human dermal fibroblast cells, which showed non-toxic nature up to 100 ng/ml. In vitro anti-proliferative activity of the complexes by MTT assay was tested against three human cancerous cell lines and one non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10a) in which the complex 4 exhibited enhanced activity. The morphological changes observed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258 staining method reveal apoptosis-inducing ability of the complexes. The molecular docking studies suggest hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and π-pair interactions with the active site of epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and lipoxygenase receptors.