Synthesis, spectral characterization, antioxidant, anticancer in vitro, and DNA cleavage studies of a series of ruthenium(II) complexes bearing Schiff base ligands

摘要

Ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazones (L'-L4) were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral (FT-IR, UV-vis, NMR ['H, 13C and 31P], and ESI-Mass) methods. Systematic biological investigations, free radical scavenging, anticancer activities, and DNA cleavage studies, were carried out for the complexes. Antioxidant studies showed that the complexes have significant antioxidant activity against DPPH, hydroxyl, nitric oxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity of complexes against breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line was assayed showing high cytotoxicity with low IC50 values indicating their efficiency in destroying the cancer cells even at very low concentrations. The DNA cleavage studies showed that the complexes efficiently cleaved DNA.