Synthesis of [Ag(C15H12N3O)]NO3 and [Zn(C15H12N3O)]Cl2 complexes and investigation of their anti-tumor properties

Transition metal complexes with potential biological activity are the focus of extensive investigations and occupy many key positions in biological processes [1]. Metal-based drugs are traditionally undervalued by the pharmaceutical industry, which is dominated by organic chemistry. Nevertheless, a number of coordinated compounds have been applied in the therapy of various diseases [2], e.g., historically salvarsan against syphilis, gold complexes against arthritis, bismuth compounds as antiulcer drugs, or platinum compounds against cancer [3]. In this research, two new complexes: [Ag(C15H12N3O)]NO3 and [Zn(C15H12N3O)]Cl2 with the NO-donor bidentate Schiff base ligands obtained from inserted condensation of 4-Pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazide with the Cinnamaldehyde in a 1:1 molar ratio were synthesized. Characterizations of the complexes were carried out by elemental analyses, FTIR, 1H NMR,13C NMR and UV–Visible spectroscopic studies. These new compounds, after 72 hours, show excellent anti-tumor activity against HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) and LNCaP (Lymph Node Carcinoma of the Prostate) cancer cells. The 50% and 90% inhibitory doses (IC50 and IC90) values, which are the compounds concentrations lethal for 50% and 90% of the tumor cells, were determined both in control and in compounds concentrations lethal in compounds-treated cultures. The corresponding IC50 and IC90 values are shown in Table 1. The results are completely new and provide new views for using of the mentioned inorganic complexes in chemotherapy.