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-dihydroxybenzylidene)-hydrazide (HL1), furan-2-carboxylic acid [4-(ethyl-propyl-amino)-2-hydroxy-benzylidene]hydrazide (HL2) and furan-2-carboxylic acid (3-ethoxy-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide (HL3) 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. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.