Theoretical, antimicrobial, antioxidant, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 inhibitor studies of metal(II) complexes with bis(imidazol-1-yl)methane-based heteroscorpionate ligands

Abstract

A series of C-centered heteroscorpionate-based homoleptic manganese(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) complexes of type [M(L^1–3)₂] (1–9) have been synthesized by using the ligands (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol-1-yl)methane (HL¹), (4-diethylamino-2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol-1-yl)methane (HL²) and (5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol-1-yl)methane (HL³). The geometric parameters of the complexes were determined using UV-vis and theoretical studies suggesting distorted octahedral geometry around metal(II) ion. Frontier molecular orbital analysis supports bioefficacy of the complexes. Antimicrobial activity of the metal(II) complexes were determined against two Gram(–ve) (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and two Gram(+ve) (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, and three fungal (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei) strains. Antioxidant activity of nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes were evaluated against ABTS, DPPH, and H₂O₂ free radicals. In vitro cytotoxicity activity of nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines along with one normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) cell line were carried out by MTT assay, which shows the potent activity of copper(II) complex 8 with respect to the standard drug cisplatin. Molecular docking studies evidence the interaction of complexes with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 receptor (CDK2).

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Heteroscorpionate complexes
• antimicrobial activity
• antioxidant activity
• cytotoxicity
• molecular docking

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF), Indian Institute Technology Madras (IIT-M), Chennai-600 036, for recording ESI mass spectral analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.