2-Acetylpyridine- and 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones and their antimony(III) complexes exhibit high anti-trypanosomal activity

New iron(III) complexes with 2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazones: Synthetic aspects, structural and spectral analyses and cytotoxicity screening against MCF-7 human cancer cells

2-Formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone - iron (III) chelates [F e L 2 ] C l • 2 H 2 O {L = L1 (C1) [HL 1  = 4-(4-Nitrophenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide] and L = L2 (C2) [HL 2  = 4-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide]} were prepared. The two ligand anions in each complex resulted in saturation of the iron coordination number and consequently the existence of these complexes as 1:1 electrolytes. As well, the iron in these complexes exhibits low-spin electronic configuration. X-ray crystallography of complex C1 indicated its triclinic crystal system and P1 ‾ space group. In addition, it proved the ligation through a thiol sulfur atom and two nitrogen atoms of pyridine and azomethine groups. This is while the presence of two water molecules of crystallization in the complex structure was also indicated. The ligand HL 1 was selected for cytotoxicity screening against human MCF-7, A-549, HEPG-2 and HCT-116 cancer cells and the most enhanced activities were detected against the breast cells. Against these cells, the compounds HL 1 , HL 2 , C1 and C2 induced cytotoxicity, respectively, with IC50 values of 52.4, 145.4, 34.3 and 62.0 μM. However, against the healthy BHK cells, HL 1 and HL 2 caused cytotoxicity, respectively, with IC50 values of 54.8 and 110.6 μM and cytotoxicity with percent viabilities of 56.7 and 55.4% of the BHK cells by the complexes (137.4 μM of C1 and 131.9 μM of C2) was determined. These activities against MCF-7 cells are less significant compared with the measured value for doxorubicin. But this standard is more toxic to normal cells than the thiosemicarbazones (IC50 (doxorubicin) = 9.66 μM against MCF-7 cells and 36.42 μM against BHK cells).

Thiosemicarbazones and Derived Antimony Complexes: Synthesis, Structural Analysis, and In Vitro Evaluation against Bacterial, Fungal, and Cancer Cells

Two antimony complexes {[Sb(L1)Cl2] C1 and [Sb(L2)Cl2] C2} with the thiosemicarbazone ligands {HL1 = 4-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide and HL2 = 4-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide} were introduced. The structures were elucidated on the basis of a CHNS analysis, spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis and FT-IR), and DMF solution electrical conductivities. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of complex C1 assigned the complex pseudo-octahedral geometry and triclinic P-1 space group. Only the ligand HL1 and its derived complex C1 displayed antifungal activities against Candida albicans and this activity was enhanced from 10 mm to 21 mm for the respective complex, which is the same activity given by the drug “Amphotericin B”. The ligands HL1 and HL2 gave inhibitions, respectively, of 14 and 10 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 15 and 10 mm against Escherichia coli; however, complexes C1 and C2 increased these inhibitions to 36 and 32 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 35 and 31 mm against Escherichia coli exceeding the activities given by the ampicillin standard (i.e., 21 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 25 mm against Escherichia coli). Against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, the IC50 values of HL1 (68.9 μM) and HL2 (145.4 μM) were notably enhanced to the values of 34.7 and 37.4 μM for both complexes, respectively. Further, the complexes induced less toxicity in normal BHK cells (HL1 (126.6 μM), HL2 (110.6 μM), C1 (>210.1 μM), and C2 (160.6 μM)). As a comparison, doxorubicin gave an IC50 value of 9.66 μM against MCF-7 cells and 36.42 μM against BHK cells.

Trivalent Cobalt Complexes with NNS Tridentate Thiosemicarbazones: Preparation, Structural Study and Investigation of Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxicity against Human Breast Cancer Cells

New complexes of trivalent cobalt with substituted thiosemicarbazone ligands having an NNS donor system {HL1 = 4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide and HL2 = 4-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide} were synthesized via the in situ oxidation of divalent cobalt chloride accompanying its addition to the ligands. The complexes C1 and C2 were characterized via elemental (CHNS) analysis and 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis. spectroscopic data. Further, conductometric studies on the DMF solutions of the complexes indicated their 1:1 nature, and their diamagnetism revealed the low-spin trivalent oxidation state of the cobalt in the complexes. The X-ray diffraction analysis of complex C1 indicated that it crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1. The metal exhibits an octahedral environment built by two anionic ligands bound via pyridine nitrogen, imine nitrogen and thiol sulfur atoms. The complex is counterbalanced by a chloride ion. In addition, two lattice water molecules were detected in the asymmetric unit of the unit cell. The ligand HL2 (20 mg/mL in DMSO) displayed inhibition zones of 10 mm against both S. aureus and E. coli, and the same concentration of the respective complex raised this activity to 15 and 12 mm against these bacterial strains, respectively. As a comparison, ampicillin inhibited these bacterial strains by 21 and 25 mm, respectively. Screening assay by HL1 on four human cancer cells revealed the most enhanced activity against the breast MCF-7 cells. The induced growth inhibitions in the MCF-7 cells by all compounds (0–100 μg/mL) have been detected. The ligands {HL1 and HL2} and complex C2 gave inhibitions with IC50 values of 52.4, 145.4 and 49.9 μM, respectively. These results are more meaningful in comparison with similar cobalt complexes, but less efficient compared with the inhibition with IC50 of 9.66 μM afforded by doxorubicin. In addition, doxorubicin, HL1 and HL2 induced cytotoxicity towards healthy BHK cells with IC50 values of 36.42, 54.8 and 110.6 μM, but surviving fractions of 66.1% and 62.7% of these cells were detected corresponding to a concentration of 100 μg/mL of the complexes (136.8 μM of C1 and 131.4 μM of C2).

Pincer Complexes Derived from Tridentate Schiff Bases for Their Use as Antimicrobial Metallopharmaceuticals

Within the current challenges in medicinal chemistry, the development of new and better therapeutic agents effective against infectious diseases produced by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites stands out. With chemotherapy as one of the main strategies against these diseases focusing on the administration of organic and inorganic drugs, the latter is generally based on the synergistic effect produced by the formation of metal complexes with biologically active organic compounds. In this sense, Schiff bases (SBs) represent and ideal ligand scaffold since they have demonstrated a broad spectrum of antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. In addition, SBs are synthesized in an easy manner from one-step condensation reactions, being thus suitable for facile structural modifications, having the imine group as a coordination point found in most of their metal complexes, and promoting chelation when other donor atoms are three, four, or five bonds apart. However, despite the wide variety of metal complexes found in the literature using this type of ligands, only a handful of them include on their structures tridentate SBs ligands and their biological evaluation has been explored. Hence, this review summarizes the most important antimicrobial activity results reported this far for pincer-type complexes (main group and d-block) derived from SBs tridentate ligands.

Evaluation of Toxicity and Oxidative Stress of 2-Acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenyl Thiosemicarbazone

Thiosemicarbazones are well known for their broad spectrum of action, including antitumoral and antiparasitic activities. Thiosemicarbazones work as chelating binders, reacting with metal ions. The objective of this work was to investigate the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo toxicity and oxidative stress of 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenyl thiosemicarbazone (TSC01). The in silico prediction showed good absorption by biological membranes and no theoretical toxicity. Also, the compound did not show cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 and HT-29 cells. In the acute nonclinical toxicological test, the animals treated with TSC01 showed behavioral changes of stimulus of the central nervous system (CNS) at 300 mg/kg. One hour after administration, a dose of 2000 mg/kg caused depressive signs. All changes disappeared after 24 h, with no deaths, which suggest an estimated LD50 of 5000 mg/kg and GSH 5. The group treated with 2000 mg/kg had an increase of water consumption and weight gain in the second week. The biochemical parameters presented no toxicity relevance, and the analysis of oxidative stress in the liver found an increase of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide. However, histopathological analysis showed organ integrity was maintained without any changes. In conclusion, the results show the low toxicological potential of thiosemicarbazone derivative, indicating future safe use.

Zn(II) and Cd(II) thiosemicarbazones for stimulation/inhibition of kojic acid biosynthesis from Aspergillus flavus and the fungal defense behavior against the metal complexes' excesses

The complexes {[ZnL¹Cl] C1, [ZnL²Cl].0.5H₂O C2, [CdL¹Cl] C3, and [CdL²Cl] C4} were prepared from tridentate thiosemicarbazones {HL¹ = 4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene) thiosemicarbazide and HL² = 4-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide} and identified by elemental CHNS, spectroscopic {IR and UV-Vis.}, thermal and DMF solution electrical conductivity data. On another hand, kojic acid (KA) which represents important secondary metabolite with numerous hot spot applications was successfully biosynthesized from Aspergillus flavus and structurally analyzed by single crystal analysis. The Zn(II) complexes C1&C2 (0.3 mM) enhanced the KA biosynthesis by 70.87% and 42.26%, while 76.09% of C1 and 72.78% of C2 were absorbed by the fungal cells. The Cd(II) complexes C3&C4 at 0.3 mM inhibited KA production by 87.95% and 97.03% with Cd(II) consumption reaching to 40.09% & 37.3%, while 0.4 mM of C3&C4 resulted in 100% inhibition of kojic acid biosynthesis. Light microscopic analysis showed the fungal structural abnormalities and the cell antioxidant behavior was detected. These complexes could be highly applicable as new stimulators and inhibitors of kojic acid production.

Thiazolidinone/thiazole based hybrids - New class of antitrypanosomal agents

Different compounds have been investigated as potent drugs for trypanosomiasis treatment, but no new drug has been marketed in the past 3 decades. 4-Thiazolidinone/thiazole as privileged structures and thiosemicarbazides cyclic analogs are well known scaffolds in novel antitrypanosomal agent design. We present here the design and synthesis of new hybrid molecules bearing thiazolidinone/thiazole cores linked by the hydrazone group with various molecular fragments. Structure optimization led to compounds with phenyl-indole or phenyl-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole moieties showing excellent antitrypanosomal activity towards Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Biological study allowed identifying compounds with the submicromolar levels of IC₅₀, good selectivity indexes and relatively low cytotoxicity upon human primary fibroblasts as well as low acute toxicity.

Synthesis, structural and antimicrobial studies of binary and ternary complexes of a new tridentate thiosemicarbazone

A new thiosemicarbazone ligand was synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis and IR) and synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction. With M²⁺ = Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺, coordination compounds of the type (M[L]₂) were isolated. In the presence of sodium dithiocarbamate salts (NadiEtdtc.3H₂O = sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate and Napipdtc = sodium piperidinedithiocarbamate), Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were able to form ternary octahedral complexes where each metal binds a deprotonated (thiosemicarbazone) ligand, a monobasic dithiocarbamate ligand and a water molecule. In vitro biological evaluation tests of the free HL ligand and its metal complexes against selected fungal and bacterial cultures were performed. Compared with HL, the complexes displayed enhanced biological activities and ternary Zn (II) complexes displayed comparable antibacterial activities to the chloramphenicol standard.

Covalent Co-O-V and Sb-N Bonds Enable Polyoxovanadate Charge Control

The formation of [{Co^II(teta)₂}{Co^II₂(tren)(teta)₂}V^IV₁₅Sb^III₆O₄₂(H₂O)]·ca.9H₂O [teta = triethylenetetraamine; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] illustrates a strategy toward reducing the molecular charge of polyoxovanadates, a key challenge in their use as components in single-molecule electronics. Here, a V–O–Co bond to a binuclear Co²⁺-centered complex and a Sb–N bond to the terminal N atom of a teta ligand of a mononuclear Co²⁺ complex allow for full charge compensation of the archetypal molecular magnet [V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂(H₂O)]^6–. Density functional theory based electron localization function analysis demonstrates that the Sb–N bond has an electron density similar to that of a Sb–O bond. Magnetic exchange coupling between the V^IV and Co^II spin centers mediated via the Sb–N bridge is comparably weakly antiferromagnetic.

Charge neutrality of the [V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂(H₂O)]⁶⁻ cluster anion is achieved by simultaneous Sb−N and V−O−Co bond formation. The Sb−N bond has an electron density similar to that of a Sb−O bond. Weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions are observed between the V^IV and Co^II spin centers.

Spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in soil and vegetable samples collected from Abraha Atsbeha, Tigray, Ethiopia using heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone

Two selective and sensitive reagents, 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (2-APT) and 3-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (3-APT) were used for the spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II). Both reagents gave yellowish Cu(II) complex at a pH range of 8.0-10.0. Beer's law was obeyed for Cu(II)-2-APT and Cu(II)-3-APT in the concentration range of 0.16-1.3 and 0.44-1.05 µg/mL, respectively. The molar absorptivity and of Cu(II)-2-APT and Cu(II)-3-APT were 2.14 × 10(4) at 370 nm, and 6.7 × 10(3) L/mol cm at 350 nm, respectively, while the Sandell's sensitivity were 0.009 and 0.029 µg/cm(2) in that order. The correlation coefficient of the standard curves of Cu(II)-2-APT and Cu(II)-3-APT were 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. The detection limit of the Cu(II)-2-APT and Cu(II)-3-APT methods were 0.053 and 0.147 µg/mL, respectively. The results demonstrated that the procedure is precise (relative standard deviation <2 %, n = 10). The method was tested for Cu(II) determination in soil and vegetable samples. Comparisons of the results with those obtained using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Cu(II) determination also tested the validity of the method using paired sample t test at the 0.05 level showing a good agreement between them.

Bismuth(III) complexes with 2-acetylpyridine- and 2-benzoylpyridine-derived hydrazones: Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities and effects on the clonogenic survival of human solid tumor cells

Complexes [Bi(2AcPh)Cl2]·0.5H2O (1), [Bi(2AcpClPh)Cl2] (2), [Bi(2AcpNO2Ph)Cl2] (3), [Bi(2AcpOHPh)Cl2]·2H2O (4), [Bi(H2BzPh)Cl3]·2H2O (5), [Bi(H2BzpClPh)Cl3] (6), [Bi(2BzpNO2Ph)Cl2]·2H2O (7) and [Bi(H2BzpOHPh)Cl3]·2H2O (8) were obtained with 2-acetylpyridine phenylhydrazone (H2AcPh), its -para-chloro-phenyl- (H2AcpClPh), -para-nitro-phenyl (H2AcpNO2Ph) and -para-hydroxy-phenyl (H2AcpOHPh) derivatives, as well as with the 2-benzoylpyridine phenylhydrazone analogues (H2BzPh, H2BzpClPh, H2BzpNO2Ph, H2BzpOHPh). Upon coordination to bismuth(III) antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains significantly improved except for complex (4). The cytotoxic effects of the compounds under study were evaluated on HL-60, Jurkat and THP-1 leukemia, and on MCF-7 and HCT-116 solid tumor cells, as well as on non-malignant Vero cells. In general, 2-acetylpyridine-derived hydrazones proved to be more potent and more selective as cytotoxic agents than the corresponding 2-benzoylpyridine-derived counterparts. Exposure of HCT-116 cells to H2AcpClPh, H2AcpNO2Ph and complex (3) led to 99% decrease of the clonogenic survival. The IC50 values of these compounds were three-fold smaller when cells were cultured in soft-agar (3D) than when cells were cultured in monolayer (2D), suggesting that they constitute interesting scaffolds, which should be considered in further studies aiming to develop new drug candidates for the treatment of colon cancer.

Antimony(III) complexes with 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidines: Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation

Novel pyrimidine compound bearing disulfide bridge, 5,5'-disulfanediylbis(2-amino-4,6-dimetoxypyrimidine) (3) was synthesized by reduction of 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxy-5-thiocyanatopyrimidine for the first time, and its structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Novel binuclear antimony(III) compound of (3), {Sb[5,5'-disulfanediylbis(2-amino-4,6-dimetoxypyrimidine)]Cl3}2 (4) and mononuclear antimony(III) compounds, SbL2Cl3, [L: 2-amino-5-thiol-4,6-dimethoxy pyrimidine (2) and 2-amino-5-(1H-tetrazol-5-ylthio)-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine (6)] were synthesized and characterized with the help of elemental analysis, molecular conductivity, FT-IR, (1)H-NMR and LC-MS techniques. The geometrical structures optimized by a DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ method of the compounds, indicated that monomeric compounds have square pyramidal shape. Both antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigote and glutathione reductase inhibitory activity were determined in vitro. The results showed that (3) has the best biological activity.

DNA cleavage, antimicrobial studies and a DFT-based QSAR study of new antimony(III) complexes as glutathione reductase inhibitor

New antimony(III) complexes, [Sb(2-aminopyridine)2Cl3] (1a), [Sb(2-aminopyridine)2Br3] (1b), [Sb(5-methyl-2-aminopyridine)2Cl3] (2a), [Sb(5-methyl-2-aminopyridine)2Br3] (2b), [Sb(2-aminopyrimidine)2Cl3] (3a), [Sb(2-aminopyrimidine)2Br3] (3b), [Sb(4,6-dimethoxy-2-aminopyrimidine)2Cl3] (4a), [Sb(4,6-dimethoxy-2-aminopyrimidine)2Br3] (4b), [Sb(2-amino-1,3,5-triazine)2Cl3] (5a), [Sb(2-amino-1,3,5-triazine)2Br3] (5b), [Sb(2-guanidinobenzimidazole) Cl3] (6a), [Sb(2-guanidinobenzimidazole)Br3] (6b) [Sb(2- benzyl-2-thiopseudeourea)2Cl3] (7a) and [Sb(2- benzyl-2-thiopseudeourea)2Br3] (7b) were synthesized. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, molecular conductivity, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, LC-MS techniques. Glutathione reductase inhibitor activity, antimicrobial activity and DNA cleavage studies of the complexes were determined. The geometrical structures of the complexes were optimized by DFT/B3LYP method with LANL2DZ as basis set. Calculation results indicated that the equilibrium geometries of all complexes have square pyramidal shape. About 350 molecular descriptors (constitutional, topological, geometrical, electrostatic and quantum chemical parameters) of the complexes were calculated by DFT/B3LYP/LANL2DZ method with CODESSA software. Calculated molecular parameters were correlated to glutathione reductase inhibitory activity values (pIC50) of all complexes by Best Multi-Linear Regression (BMLR) method. Obtained two-parameter QSAR equation shows that increase in "maximum partial charge for a H atom" and decrease in HOMO-LUMO gap would be favorable for the glutathione reductase inhibitory activity.

Metal complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenylthiosemicarbazone: cytotoxicity and effect on the enzymatic activity of thioredoxin reductase and glutathione reductase

Metal complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenylthiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4oClPh) were assayed for their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. The thiosemicarbazone and most of the complexes were highly cytotoxic. H2Ac4oClPh and its gallium(III) and tin(IV) complexes did not show any inhibitory activity against thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and glutathione reductase (GR). The palladium(II), platinum(II) and bismuth(III) complexes inhibited TrxR at micromolar concentrations but not GR. The antimony(III) and gold(III) complexes strongly inhibited TrxR at submicromolar doses with GR inhibition at higher concentrations. The selectivity of these complexes for TrxR suggests metal binding to a selenol residue in the active site of the enzyme. TrxR inhibition is likely a contributing factor to the mode of action of the gold and antimony derivatives.

Main-Group Medicinal Chemistry Including Li and Bi*

Main-group element compounds were among the first developed in the modern era as pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of a wide variety of human ailments; it is now recognized that many of these elements exist in traditional medicine of many societies, for example, arsenic. The use of main-group element compounds in contemporary medicine continues for the treatment of, for example, depression (Li), stomach ulcers (Bi), cancer (As and Ga), and leishmaniasis (Sb). Not surprisingly, new compounds of these elements, and other main-group elements, continue to be investigated for their potential use in new therapies. In this chapter, the use of main-group elements as therapeutic agents is outlined and also, where understood, comments on biological targets and mechanisms of action. Further, key advances in new potential applications of main-group element compounds in medicine are evaluated.