Antitumor activity of synthesized and characterized Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes of hydrazone-oxime ligands derived from 3-(hydroxyimino) butan-2-one

Mononuclear and binuclear metal complexes of hydrazone oxime resulted from the condensation of acetohydrazide and pyridyl hydrazide with 3-(hydroxyimino) butan-2-one were prepared. All compounds were characterized using elemental, spectral and thermal analyses, as well as magnetic moment and molar conductance measurements. The ligands acted as neutral/monobasic bidentate, monobasic tridentate and dibasic tetradentate ligands bonded to the metal ions via azomethine nitrogen or oxime oxygen atoms and enolic carbonyl oxygen or pyridine nitrogen atom. The spectral and magnetic studies of the complexes showed that exhibit either distorted octahedral, square planer or tetrahedral geometry. Newly complexes were tested for their anti-proliferative activity in vitro against three human cell lines; MCF-7, Hep-G2 and HL-60. The cytotoxic action of the complexes was determined and compared to that of the anticancer drug doxorubicin. Results of cytotoxicity activities indicated that the compound (6) has a wide range of cytotoxicity against the three cell lines in concentration ranges as that of doxorubicin. It shows more cytotoxic against MCF-7 (IC50=1.8μM) and HL-60 (IC50=10.6μM) cancer cell lines. Compounds (H2L1) and (11) exhibited higher cytotoxic activities rather than doxorubicin against MCF-7 and HL-60 cell line. Compounds (2) and (11) are 3.1 and 2.1 times more active than doxorubicin; respectively, against HL-60 cell line.