Synthesis, Cytotoxic Activity, and DNA Binding Properties of Copper (II) Complexes with Hesperetin, Naringenin, and Apigenin

• Published in: Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications 2009-01, Vol.2009 (1), p.123-131
• Main Authors: Tan, Mingxiong, Zhu, Jinchan, Pan, Yingming, Chen, Zhenfeng, Liang, Hong, Liu, Huagang, Wang, Hengshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Bioflavonoids; Cancer; Chemical properties; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Coordination compounds; Copper; Copper compounds; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA-ligand interactions; Flavones; Flavonoids; Methods; Natural products; Nutrition; Production processes; Proteins; Spectrum analysis; Studies
• ISSN: 1565-3633; 1687-479X
• DOI: 10.1155/2009/347872

Complexes of copper (II) with hesperetin, naringenin, and apigenin of general composition [CuL2(H2O)2]⋅nH2O (1–3) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Vis, FT-IR, ESI-MS, and TG-DTG thermal analysis. The free ligands and the metal complexes have been tested in vitro against human cancer cell lines hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), gastric carcinomas (SGC-7901), and cervical carcinoma (HeLa). Complexes 1 and 3 were found to exhibit growth inhibition of SGC-7901 and HepG2 cell lines with respect to the free ligands; the inhibitory rate of complex 1 is 43.2% and 43.8%, while complex 3 is 46% and 36%, respectively. The interactions of complex 1 and its ligand Hsp with calf thymus DNA were investigated by UV-Vis, fluorescence, and CD spectra. Both complex 1 and Hsp were found to bind DNA in intercalation modes, and the binding affinity of complex 1 was stronger than that of free ligand.