DNA binding, DNA cleavage, antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies on ruthenium(II) complexes of benzaldehyde 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazones

Biomolecular Interactions of Cytotoxic Ruthenium Compounds with Thiosemicarbazone or Benzothiazole Schiff Base Chelates

Herein we illustrate the formation and characterization of new paramagnetic ruthenium compounds, trans-P-[RuCl(PPh3 )2 (pmt)]Cl (1) (Hpmt=1-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide), trans-P-[RuCl(PPh3 )2 (tmc)]Cl (2) (Htmc=1-((thiophen-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide) and a diamagnetic ruthenium complex, cis-Cl, trans-P-[RuCl2 (PPh3 )2 (btm)] (3) (btm=2-((5-hydroxypentylimino)methyl)benzothiazole). Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments of the metal compounds illustrated dose-dependent binding to gDNA by 1-3, while methylene blue competition assays suggested that 1 and 2 are also DNA intercalators. Assessment of the effects of the compounds on topoisomerase function indicated that 1-3 are capable of inhibiting topoisomerase I activity in terms of the ability to nick supercoiled plasmid DNA. The cytotoxic activities of the metal complexes were determined against a range of cancer cell lines versus a non-tumorigenic control cell line, and the complexes were, in general, more cytotoxic towards the cancer cells, displaying IC50 values in the low micromolar range. Time-dependent stability studies showed that in the presence of strong nucleophilic species (such as DMSO), the chloride co-ligands of 1-3 are rapidly substituted by the former as proven by the suppression of the substitution reactions in the presence of an excess amount of chloride ions. The metal complexes are significantly stable in both DCM and an aqueous phosphate buffer containing 2 % DMSO.

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).

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, Structural Studies, and In Vitro Antitumor Activities of Pyridine-3-carbaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives

Eight new thiosemicarbazone derivatives, 6-(1-trifluoroethoxy)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (1), 6-(4′-fluorophenyl)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (2), 5-chloro-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3), 2-chloro-5-bromo-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (4), 6-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (5), 2-chloro-5-fluor-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, (6), 5-iodo-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (7), and 6-(3′,5′-dichlorophenyl)pyridine-3-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (8) were synthesized, from the reaction of the corresponding pyridine-3-carbaldehyde with thiosemicarbazide. The synthesized compounds were characterized by ESI-Mass, UV-Vis, IR, and NMR (1H, 13C, 19F) spectroscopic techniques. Molar mass values and spectroscopic data are consistent with the proposed structural formulas. The molecular structure of 7 has been also confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the solid state 7 exists in the E conformation about the N2-N3 bond; 7 also presents the E conformation in solution, as evidenced by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro antitumor activity of the synthesized compounds was studied on six human tumor cell lines: H460 (lung large cell carcinoma), HuTu80 (duodenum adenocarcinoma), DU145 (prostate carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), M-14 (amelanotic melanoma), and HT-29 (colon adenocarcinoma). Furthermore, toxicity studies in 3T3 normal cells were carried out for the prepared compounds. The results were expressed as IC50 and the selectivity index (SI) was calculated. Biological studies revealed that 1 (IC50 = 3.36 to 21.35 μM) displayed the highest antiproliferative activity, as compared to the other tested thiosemicarbazones (IC50 = 40.00 to >582.26 μM) against different types of human tumor cell lines. 1 was found to be about twice as cytotoxic (SI = 1.82) than 5-fluorouracile (5-FU) against the M14 cell line, indicating its efficiency in inhibiting the cell growth even at low concentrations. A slightly less efficient activity was shown by 1 towards the HuTu80 and MCF7 tumor cell lines, as compared to that of 5-FU. Therefore, 1 can be considered as a promising candidate to be used as a pharmacological agent, since it presents significant activity and was found to be more innocuous than the 5-FU anticancer drug against the 3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast cells.

Non-mutagenic Ru(ii) complexes: cytotoxicity, topoisomerase IB inhibition, DNA and HSA binding

Herein we discuss five ruthenium(ii) complexes with good cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Ru(II)/diphenylphosphine/pyridine-6-thiolate complexes induce S-180 cell apoptosis through intrinsic mitochondrial pathway involving inhibition of Bcl-2 and p53/Bax activation

The aim of this work was the synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation of three new Ru(II) complexes with a general formula [Ru(Spy)(bipy)(P-P)]PF₆ [Spy = pyridine-6-thiolate; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; P-P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane (1); 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphine) propane (2); and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] (4). Complex (3) with the 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)butane ligand, already known from the literature, was also synthesized, to be better studied here. The cytotoxicities of the complexes toward two kinds of cancerous cells (K562 and S-180 cells) were evaluated and compared to normal cells (L-929 and PBMC) by MTT assay. The complex [Ru(Spy)(bipy)(dppb)]PF₆ (3) was selected to study both the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its promising anticancer action in S-180 cells. The results obtained from this study indicated that complex (3) induces cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in S-180 cells associated with a decrease in the number of cells in S phase. After 24 and 48 h of exposure to complex (3), the cell viability decreased when compared to the negative control. Complex (3) does not appear to be involved in the DNA damage, but induced changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential in S-180 cells. Furthermore, there was also an increase in the gene expression of Bax, Caspase 9, and Tp53. According to our results, complex (3) induces cell apoptosis through p53/Bax-dependent intrinsic pathway and suppresses the expression of active antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein.

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of Ru(II) complexes of steroidal thiosemicarbazones by multi step reaction: As anti-bacterial agents

Ru(II) steroidal metal complexes were synthesized by the reaction of dichlorodicarbonyl ruthenium(II) [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂]_n with Steroidal thiosemicarbazones. Coordination via the thionic sulfur and the azomethine nitrogen atom of the thiosemicarbazone to the Ru(II) metal. Steroidal thiosemicarbazone derivatives were obtained by the thiosemicarbazide with steroidal ketones. Structures of the steroidal thiosemicarbazone and their metal complexes were confirmed by the FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Fab-Mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The antibacterial activity of these compounds were first tested in vitro by the disk diffusion assay against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria, and then the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The results showed that steroidal Ru(II) complexes are better inhibit growth as compared to steroidal thiosemicarbazones of both types of the bacteria (gram-positive and gram-negative).

Synthesis, spectral characterization, DNA interaction, radical scavenging and cytotoxicity studies of ruthenium(II) hydrazone complexes

Three new ruthenium(II) complexes with hydrazone ligands, furan-2-carboxylic acid (2,4-dihydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide (HL(1)), furan-2-carboxylic acid [4-(ethyl-propyl-amino)-2-hydroxy-benzylidene]-hydrazide (HL(2)) and furan-2-carboxylic acid (3-ethoxy-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide (HL(3)) were synthesized and characterized by various spectro-analytical techniques. The hydrazone ligands act as a tridendate ligand with ONO as the donor sites and are preferably found in the enol form in all the complexes. The molecular structure of the ligands was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The interaction of the ligands and the complexes with CT-DNA were evaluated by an absorption titration method which revealed that the compounds interact with CT-DNA through intercalation. Gel electrophoresis assay demonstrated the ability of the complexes to cleave the calf thymus DNA hydrolytically. Antioxidant studies showed that the ruthenium(II) complexes have a strong radical-scavenging properties. Further, the cytotoxic effect of the compounds examined on cancerous cell lines showed that the complexes exhibited substantial anticancer activity.

Synthesis, characterisation, in vitro DNA binding properties and antioxidant activities of Ln(III) complexes with chromone-3-carbaldehyde-(2′-hydroxy) benzoyl hydrazone

Ln(III) complexes with chromone-3-carbaldehyde-(2′-hydroxy)benzoyl hydrazone as the Schiff base ligand have been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, 1H NMR, mass spectra, UV–Vis spectra, and IR spectra. Electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, ethidium bromide displacement experiments and viscosity measurements indicate that the free ligand and its Ln(III) complexes, especially the La(III) complex, bind strongly to calf thymus DNA via an intercalation mechanism. The intrinsic binding constants of the free ligand, La(III) complex, Sm(III) complex and Er(III) complex with DNA were (2.20±0.12) x 105 M−1, (8.83±0.04) x 106 M−1, (7.35±0.07) x 106 M−1 and (3.24±0.04) x 106 M−1, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the ligand and its Ln(III) complexes was determined by the superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging method in vitro, which indicates that the ligand and its Ln(III) complexes are efficient antioxidants and the Ln(III) complexes exhibit more effective antioxidant activity than the free ligand alone and some standard antioxidants, such as mannitol and vitamin C.

Synthesis, spectral characterization, molecular structure and pharmacological studies of N'-(1, 4-naphtho-quinone-2yl) isonicotinohydrazide

A simple and efficient procedure was employed for the synthesis of N'-(1,4-naphtho-quinone-2-yl) isonicotinohydrazide (NIH) by the reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone (lawsone) and isonicotinoyl hydrazine in methanol using ultrasonic irradiation. Lawsone is the principal dye, isolated from the leaves of henna (Lawsonia inermis). Structural modification was done on the molecule aiming to get a more active derivative. The structure of the parent compound and the derivative was characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, electronic, (1)H, (13)C NMR and GC-MS spectra. The fluorescence spectral investigation of the compound was studied in DMSO and ethanol. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that NIH crystallizes in monoclinic space group. The DNA cleavage study was monitored by gel electrophoresis method. The synthesized compound was found to have significant antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50=58 μM). The in vitro cytotoxic studies of the derivative against two human cancer cell lines MCF-7 (human breast cancer) and HCT-15 (human colon carcinoma cells) using MTT assay revealed that the compound exhibited higher cytotoxic activity with a lower IC50 value indicating its efficiency in killing the cancer cells even at low concentrations. These results suggest that the structural modifications performed on lawsone could be considered a good strategy to obtain a more active drug.

DNA binding, cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction activity of a mixed-ligand copper(II) complex with taurine Schiff base and imidazole

A novel binuclear copper(II) complex (complex 1) with taurine Schiff base and imidazole has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, ESI-MS spectrometry, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy. Single-crystal analysis revealed that 1 displays the sulfonate-bridged dinuclear copper(II) centers. Both copper atoms are five-coordinated and exhibit slightly distorted square pyramidal geometries. Each of copper atom is surrounded by three oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom from different taurine Schiff base ligands, and one nitrogen atom from one imidazole ligand. The interaction between 1 and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectra and agarose gel electrophoresis. The experimental results indicated that 1 could bind to CT-DNA via an intercalative mode and show efficient cleavage activity. In addition, 1 showed an antitumor effect on cell cycle and apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that MGC-803 cells were arrested in the S phase after treatment with 1. Fluorescence microscopic observation indicated that 1 could induce apoptosis of MGC-803 cells.