Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
Published on: November 10, 2013
α-N-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone Fe(III) complex: Characterization of its antitumor activity and identification of
Yi Gou1, Jun Wang1, Shifang Chen1
1School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
We synthesized an α-N-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone ligand (L) and its Fe complex (C1) and assessed their chemical and biological properties in order to understand their marked activity. Electrochemical studies and ascorbate oxidation studies demonstrated that C1 shows considerable redox activity, and Fe(III/II) redox potentials was within the range accessible to cellular oxidants and reductants. Absorption spectral, emission spectral and viscosity analysis reveal that L and C1 interacted with DNA through intercalation and C1 exhibited a higher DNA binding ability. Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments indicated that C1 exhibited the highest pBR322 DNA cleaving ability. In vitro, C1 showed significantly more anticancer activity than the ligand alone. Moreover, C1 induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage, resulting in activation of the p53 pathway, cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2
Diazonium Group Substitution with Halogens and Cyanide: Sandmeyer and Schiemann Reactions
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

