Synthesis and characterization of heteroleptic Schiff base transition metal complexes: a study of anticancer, antimicrobial, DNA cleavage and anti-TB activity

Abstract

In search of effective bioactive compounds, we have synthesized the new Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes of the Schiff base derived from 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and 2-hydrazino benzothiazole and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (IR, NMR, UV–vis, Mass), magnetic, powder X-ray diffraction data (PXRD) and TGA studies. Elemental analysis suggests the stoichiometry of the synthesized complexes and the solution electronic spectral study revealed the octahedral geometry of the compounds. Thermal analysis shows the presence of water molecule outside the coordination sphere and powder-XRD patterns have been studied to test the degree of crystallinity of the complexes and unit cell calculations were made. All the synthesized compounds were tested against human ovarian cancer cell line (PA-1). The synthesized metal complexes exhibited enhanced activity against the tested bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia Coli) and fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus) as compared to free ligand (LH). The results of the DNA-cleavage activity suggest that the ligand and its metal complexes can cleave CT-DNA at different degrees. Further, anti-tuberculosis activity was done using microplate almar blue assay. Among all these synthesized compounds, the Cu(II) complex exhibits good cleaving ability compared to other newly synthesized metal complexes.

Keywords:

• Coumarin
• metal complexes
• powder XRD
• PA-1 cell line
• DNA cleavage

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to University Scientific Instrumentation Centre, Karnatak University, Dharwad, IISc Bengaluru and SAIF IIT Bombay, India for providing instrumental facilities.