Synthesis, spectral characterization, antioxidant, anticancer in vitro , and DNA cleavage studies of a series of ruthenium(II) complexes bearing Schiff base ligands.

Ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazones (L1–L4) were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral (FT-IR, UV–vis, NMR [1H,13C and31P], and ESI-Mass) methods. Systematic biological investigations, free radical scavenging, anticancer activities, and DNA cleavage studies, were carried out for the complexes. Antioxidant studies showed that the complexes have significant antioxidant activity against DPPH, hydroxyl, nitric oxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide assay. Thein vitrocytotoxicity of complexes against breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line was assayed showing high cytotoxicity with low IC50values indicating their efficiency in destroying the cancer cells even at very low concentrations. The DNA cleavage studies showed that the complexes efficiently cleaved DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]