Isolation of potassium salt of oxadiazole-2-thione and anticancer activities of its Cu() and Zn() complexes against MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells

A potassium 4-(pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione was isolated in a basic medium, and its complexes [Cu(en) 2 (pot) 2 ] ( 1 ) and [Zn(en) 2 (pot) 2 ]HBr·CH 3 OH ( 2 ) containing ethylenediamine (en) as secondary ligand were synthesized and fully characterized. Upon changing the reaction conditions, the Cu( ii ) complex ( 1 ) adopts an octahedral geometry around the metal center. The cytotoxic activity of ligand (Kpot·H 2 O) along with complexes 1 and 2 was tested, and their anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells was demonstrated, with complex 1 exhibiting superior cytotoxicity against these cells as compared to Kpot·H 2 O and complex 2 . According to the DNA nicking assay, the ligand (Kpot·H 2 O) was found to be more potent to scavenge hydroxyl radicals even at a lower concentration (50 μg mL −1 ) than that of both complexes. The wound healing assay revealed that ligand Kpot·H 2 O and its complexes 1 and 2 attenuated the migration of the above-mentioned cell line. The loss of cellular and nuclear integrity and induction in the activity of Caspase-3 suggest the anticancer potential of ligand Kpot·H 2 O and its complexes 1 and 2 against MDA-MB-231 cells. A potassium 4-(pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione was isolated in a basic medium, and its complexes [Cu(en) 2 (pot) 2 ] ( 1 ) and [Zn(en) 2 (pot) 2 ]HBr·CH 3 OH ( 2 ) containing ethylenediamine (en) as secondary ligands were synthesized and fully characterized.