Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of a mononuclear Fe(II) Schiff base complex with photocatalytic activity in Trigonella

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects 2020-03, Vol.1864 (3), p.129503, Article 129503
• Main Authors: Mahapatra, Kalyan, Ghosh, Ayon Kanti, De, Sayanti, Ghosh, Noyel, Sadhukhan, Pritam, Chatterjee, Sharmistha, Ghosh, Rajarshi, Sil, Parames C., Roy, Sujit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cytotoxicity; DNA strand breaks; Fe(II) Schiff base complex; Solid tumour model; Therapeutic agent; Trigonella foenum-graecum
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129503

In recent times, coordination complexes of iron in various oxidation states along with variety of ligand systems have been designed and developed for effective treatment of cancer cells without adversely affecting the normal cell and tissues of various organs. In this study, we have evaluated the mechanism of action of a Fe(II) Schiff base complex in the crop plant Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) as the screening system by using morphological, cytological, biochemical and molecular approaches. Further functional characterization was performed using MCF-7 cell line and solid tumour model for the assessment of anti-tumour activity of the complex. Our results indicate efficiency of the Fe(II) Schiff base complex in the induction of double strand breaks in DNA. Complex treatment clearly induced cytotoxic and genotoxic damage in Trigonella seedlings. The Fe-complex treatment caused cell cycle arrest via the activation of ATM-ATR kinase mediated DNA damage response pathway with the compromised expression of CDK1, CDK2 and CyclinB1 protein in Trigonella seedlings. In cultured MCF-7 cells, the complex induces cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation through intracellular ROS generation. Fe-complex treatment inhibited tumour growth in solid tumour model with no additional side effects. The growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of the complex result from activation of DNA damage response along with oxidative stress and cell cycle arrest. Overall, our results have provided comprehensive information on the mechanism of action and efficacy of a Fe(II) Schiff base complex in higher eukaryotic genomes and indicated its future implications as potential therapeutic agent. [Display omitted] •The study explores cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of a Fe(II)Schiff base complex.•The study uses plant genome as a rapid and low-cost screening system.•The Fe-complex efficiently induces genotoxicity via double strand breaks in DNA.•The complex causes cell cycle arrest at S-phase and alters chromatin structure.•The Fe-complex treatment reduces solid flank tumour growth in Swiss Albino Mice.