In vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis, DNA-binding, and antioxidant activity studies of ruthenium (II) complexes

Two new ligands maip (1) (maip = 2-(3-aminophenyl)imizado[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), paip (2) (paip = 2-(4-aminophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), and their ruthenium (II) complexes [Ru(phen)(2)(maip)](ClO(4))(2) (3) and [Ru(phen)(2)(paip)](ClO(4))(2) (4) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The apoptosis assay was carried out with acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining methods. The DNA-binding behaviors of complexes 3 and 4 were investigated by viscosity measurements, thermal denaturation, photocleavage, and spectroscopic methods. The results show that the two complexes intercalate into the base pairs of DNA. In the presence of a complex, apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells was observed. Experiments show that these compounds exhibit antioxidant activity against hydroxyl radicals.