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

Abstract

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). Complexes1and3were found to exhibit growth inhibition of SGC-7901 and HepG2 cell lines with respect to the free ligands; the inhibitory rate of complex1is 43.2% and 43.8%, while complex 3 is 46% and 36%, respectively. The interactions of complex1and its ligand Hsp with calf thymus DNA were investigated by UV-Vis, fluorescence, and CD spectra. Both complex1and Hsp were found to bind DNA in intercalation modes, and the binding affinity of complex1was stronger than that of free ligand.