Enhancing the photocytotoxic potential of curcumin on terpyridyl lanthanide(III) complex formation

Metal complexes of curcumin--synthetic strategies, structures and medicinal applications

This Tutorial Review presents an overview on the synthesis, characterization and applications of metal complexes containing curcumin (=1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) and its derivatives as ligands. Innovative synthetic strategies leading to soluble and crystallizable metal curcumin complexes are outlined in detail. Special emphasis is placed on the highly promising and exciting medicinal applications of metal curcumin complexes, with the three most important areas being anticancer activity and selective cytotoxicity, anti-Alzheimer's disease activity, and antioxidative/neuroprotective effects. Overall, this Tutorial Review provides the first general overview of this emerging and rapidly expanding field of interdisciplinary research.

Transition metal complexes with bioactive ligands: mechanisms for selective ligand release and applications for drug delivery

The unique properties of transition metal complexes, such as environment-responsive ligand exchange kinetics, diverse photochemical and photophysical properties, and the ability to form specific interactions with biomolecules, make them interesting platforms for selective drug delivery. This minireview will focus on recent examples of rationally designed complexes with bioactive ligands, exploring the different roles of the metal, and mechanisms of ligand release. Developments in the techniques used to study the mechanisms of action of metal-drug complexes will also be discussed, including X-ray protein crystallography, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Remarkable visible light-triggered cytotoxicity of mitochondria targeting mixed-ligand cobalt(iii) complexes of curcumin and phenanthroline bases binding to human serum albumin

Co(iii) complexes of curcumin and phenanthroline bases show remarkable visible-light induced cytotoxicity in HeLa cells but are much less toxic in dark and to normal cells. The complexes bind to HSA with significant affinity.

BODIPY appended copper(ii) complexes of curcumin showing mitochondria targeted remarkable photocytotoxicity in visible light

BODIPY-appended copper(ii) complexes of curcumin show a remarkable PDT effect in visible light in HeLa cellsviaapoptosis with mitochondrial localization.

Luminescent europium and terbium complexes of dipyridoquinoxaline and dipyridophenazine ligands as photosensitizing antennae: structures and biological perspectives

Luminescent europium and terbium complexes of quinoxaline and phenazine ligands were studied for their structures, luminescence properties, interaction with DNA, and photo-induced DNA cleavage activity.

Photocytotoxic luminescent lanthanide complexes of DTPA–bisamide using quinoline as photosensitizer

Luminescent lanthanide(iii) complexes of DTPA–bisamide quinoline as photosensitizer were studied for their structures, luminescent properties, binding with DNA and protein, photo-induced DNA cleavage, photocytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies.

Significant photocytotoxic effect of an iron(iii) complex of a Schiff base ligand derived from vitamin B6and thiosemicarbazide in visible light

An iron(iii)–Schiff base complex derived from vitamin B₆and thiosemicarbazide is significantly photocytotoxic to HeLa cancer cells in visible light (400 nm–700 nm) but non-toxic in the absence of light.

The chemistry of curcumin: from extraction to therapeutic agent

Curcumin, a pigment from turmeric, is one of the very few promising natural products that has been extensively investigated by researchers from both the biological and chemical point of view. While there are several reviews on the biological and pharmacological effects of curcumin, chemistry reviews are comparatively scarcer. In this article, an overview of different aspects of the unique chemistry research on curcumin will be discussed. These include methods for the extraction from turmeric, laboratory synthesis methods, chemical and photochemical degradation and the chemistry behind its metabolism. Additionally other chemical reactions that have biological relevance like nucleophilic addition reactions, and metal chelation will be discussed. Recent advances in the preparation of new curcumin nanoconjugates with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles will also be mentioned. Directions for future investigations to be undertaken in the chemistry of curcumin have also been suggested.

Improved separation of the curcuminoids, syntheses of their rare earth complexes, and studies of potential antiosteoporotic activity

The first reported homogenous rare earth curcumin (HCurc; ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione)) complexes with the formula ML3, where M(3+) is Eu(III), Gd(III) or Lu(III), were synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and, in the case of the lutetium complex, (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Most importantly an improved separation of the three curcuminoids, HCurc, HDMC ((1E,6E)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione) and HBDMC ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione) was realized using a combination of normal-phase column and phosphate-impregnated preparative-thin layer chromatographies. The toxicities of the metal curcumin complexes and ligands were investigated in MG-63 cells, an osteoblast-like cell line, for potential activity as antiosteoporotic agents.