New zirconium (IV) complexes of coumarins with cytotoxic activity

Complexes of zirconium (IV) with some bis-coumarin ligands have been synthesized. The zirconium (IV) complexes with bis-coumarins were characterized by different physicochemical methods-elemental analysis, IR-, and (1)H-NMR-spectroscopies and mass spectral data. The spectral data of zirconium (IV) complexes were interpreted on the basis of comparison with the spectra of the free ligands. The results of the ligands and their complexes, based on spectral data are informative and useful for suggestion of the metal-ligand binding mode. Cytotoxic screening by MTT assay was carried out. In the present study we performed comparative evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of the three newly synthesized zirconium complexes against the acute myeloid leukemia derived HL-60 and the chronic myeloid leukemia LAMA-84. The preliminary cytotoxicity screening program revealed that the investigated zirconium complexes induced 50% inhibition of the cell viability of HL-60 and LAMA-84 cells at micromolar concentrations and thus could be considered as biologically active. Independently of the tumor test system evaluated the complex of bis(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-methane proved superior to the remaining agents with respect to the IC(50) values obtained. The complexes of both the other coumarins evaluated proved to be less potent than the corresponding free ligands, as evidenced by the IC(50) values obtained. Thus the zirconium complexes with coumarin ligands represent a novel class of antiproliferative agents, which deserve further attention in search of anticancer lead compounds.