Quercetin - based rhodium(III) complex: Synthesis, characterization and diverse biological potentials

Synthesis and characterization of nano crystallite carboxamide-based iron(III) complexes: SOD mimetic activity, antibacterial and anticancer activity and molecular docking study

Three carboxamide-based ligands and their iron(III) complexes were prepared and structurally characterized. Analytical, thermal and mass spectra measurements showed a 1:1 stoichiometric (M:L) of the synthesized iron(III) complexes. The distorted octahedral geometry of the present iron(III) complexes was assigned based on the results of spectroscopy and magnetometry. Processing of X-ray diffraction data for powder samples by the software Expo 2014 confirmed the octahedral geometry of the three iron(III) complexes. Electrochemical properties of the present iron(III) complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetric measurements. The present iron(III) complexes exhibit SOD like activity with IC50 values of 16.45, 15.24 and 9.70 μM. The drive forces (-λ or ΔG°) controlling these biocatalytic reactions were determined and correlated with catalytic activity. The proposed catalytic mechanistic implications for the conversion of O2•- to H2O2 and H2O were discussed. The antimicrobial activity has been studied in vitro against G(+) and G(-) pathogenic bacteria. The in vitro anticancer activity of the carboxamide-based ligands and their iron(III) complexes against human Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) cell lines was examined. The obtained results demonstrated the potent anticancer activity of iron(III) complexes with increased safety on normal cells compared to cisplatin. Molecular docking calculations confirmed the experimental findings of the antibacterial and anticancer activities of both free ligands and their iron(III) chelates.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of novel Rh(III) and Pd(II) complexes with pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives

Six pyrazolopyrimidine rhodium(III) or palladium(II) complexes, [Rh(L1)(H2O)Cl3] (1), [Rh(L2)(CH3OH)Cl3] (2), [Rh(L3)(H2O)Cl3] (3), [Rh2(L4)Cl6]·CH3OH (4), [Rh(L5)(CH3CN)Cl3]·0.5CH3CN (5), and [Pd(L5)Cl2] (6), were synthesized and characterized. These complexes showed high cytotoxicity against six tested cancer cell lines. Most of the complexes showed higher cytotoxicity to T-24 cells in vitro than cisplatin. Mechanism studies indicated that complexes 5 and 6 induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest through DNA damage, and induced apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress response. In addition, complex 5 also induced cell apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction. Complexes 5 and 6 showed low in vivo toxicity and high tumor growth inhibitory activity in mouse tumor models. The inhibitory effect of rhodium complex 5 on tumor growth in vivo was more pronounced than that of palladium complex 6.

A comparative study of novel ruthenium(III) and iron(III) complexes containing uracil; docking and biological studies

Structural and biological studies were conducted on the novel complexes [Fe(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (FeU) and [Ru(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (RuU) (U = 5,6-Diamino-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione) to develop an anticancer drug candidate. The two complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Based on our findings, these complexes have octahedral geometry. The DNA-binding study proved that both complexes coordinated with CT-DNA. The docking study confirmed the potency of both complexes in downregulating the topoisomerase I protein through their high binding affinity. Biological studies have established that both complexes can act as potent anticancer agents against three cancer cell lines. RuU or FeU complexes induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by increasing caspase9 protein and inhibiting proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) activity. In addition, both complexes down-regulate topoisomerase I expression in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the RuU and FeU complexes' anticancer activities were mediated via both apoptosis induction and topoisomerase I down-regulation. In conclusion, both complexes have dual anticancer activity pathways that may be responsible for the selective cytotoxicity of the complexes. This makes them more suitable for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.

Metallophenolomics: A Novel Integrated Approach to Study Complexation of Plant Phenolics with Metal/Metalloid Ions

Plant adaptive strategies have been shaped during evolutionary development in the constant interaction with a plethora of environmental factors, including the presence of metals/metalloids in the environment. Among adaptive reactions against either the excess of trace elements or toxic doses of non-essential elements, their complexation with molecular endogenous ligands, including phenolics, has received increasing attention. Currently, the complexation of phenolics with metal(loid)s is a topic of intensive studies in different scientific fields. In spite of the numerous studies on their chelating capacity, the systemic analysis of phenolics as plant ligands has not been performed yet. Such a systematizing can be performed based on the modern approach of metallomics as an integral biometal science, which in turn has been differentiated into subgroups according to the nature of the bioligands. In this regard, the present review summarizes phenolics–metal(loid)s’ interactions using the metallomic approach. Experimental results on the chelating activity of representative compounds from different phenolic subgroups in vitro and in vivo are systematized. General properties of phenolic ligands and specific properties of anthocyanins are revealed. The novel concept of metallophenolomics is proposed, as a ligand-oriented subgroup of metallomics, which is an integrated approach to study phenolics–metal(loid)s’ complexations. The research subjects of metallophenolomics are outlined according to the methodology of metallomic studies, including mission-oriented biometal sciences (environmental sciences, food sciences and nutrition, medicine, cosmetology, coloration technologies, chemical sciences, material sciences, solar cell sciences). Metallophenolomics opens new prospects to unite multidisciplinary investigations of phenolic–metal(loid) interactions.

Synthesis and characterization of violurate - based Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes nano-crystallites as DNA-binders and therapeutics agents against SARS-CoV-2 virus

Synthesis and structural characterization of nano crystallites of bis-violurate-based manganese(II) and copper(II) chelates is the subject of the present study. Analytical data and mass spectra as well as thermal analysis determined the molecular formulas of the present metal chelates. Spectroscopic and magnetic measurements assigned the structural formula of the present violurate metal complexes. The spectroscopic and magnetic investigations along with structural analysis results indicated the square planar geometry of both the Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The structural analysis of the synthesized metal complexes was achieved by processing the PXRD data using specialized software Expo 2014. Spectrophotometeric and viscosity measurements showed that violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes successfully bind to DNA with intrinsic binding constants K_b from 38.2 × 10⁵ to 26.4 × 10⁶ M⁻¹. The antiviral activity study displayed that the inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of SARS-CoV-2 by violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes are 84.01, 39.58 and 44.86 μM respectively. Molecular docking calculations were performed on the SARS-CoV-2 virus protein and the computed binding energy values are −0.8, −3.860 −5.187 and −4.790, kcal/mol for the native ligand, violuric acid and its Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes respectively. Insights into the relationship between structures of the current compounds and their degree of reactivity are discussed.