Evaluation of Cytotoxic Properties of N,N'-bis[(1-aryl-3-heteroaryl)propylidene]-hydrazine dihydrochlorides

N,N ' -bis[(1-aryl-3-heteroaryl)propylidene]hydrazine dihydrochlorides, P1, P4 – P8, and R1 – R7, were assayed against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4), human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60), and human normal oral cells (HGF, HPC, and HPLF) as non-tumor cells to evaluate their cytotoxic properties. Peplomycin was used as a reference compound. It was found that P- and R- series hydrazone compounds exhibited cytotoxicity in a range of 11 ± 0.68 – 300 ± 1.0 ± M. Compound P1 which is a non-substituted hydrazone containing piperidine ring and compound R2 which is a 4-methyl hydrazone derivative containing pyrrolidine ring showed the most potent cytotoxic activity. These hydrazone compounds may serve as promising candidates for further studies.