Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
Published on: November 10, 2013
Synthesis and Antitumor Mechanism of Emodin-Derived Transition Metal Complexes
Yumin Pan1, Ying Rui1, Biqun Zou1
1School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Guilin Normal University, Guilin 541199, China.
None:
In this study, emodin was used as the starting material to synthesize two novel ligands, L1 and L2, containing bipyridine or phenanthroline moieties. Seven metal complexes (1-7) were obtained through coordination with Co, Rh, Ru, and Pt ions. Their structures were confirmed via NMR, HRMS, UV-Vis, IR, HPLC and SC-XRD analyses. The MTT assay showed that L1 and complex 2 selectively inhibited HepG-2 cells, with IC50 values of 8.77 μM and 6.10 μM, respectively. Both compounds exhibited stronger activity than cisplatin (9.05 μM) and low toxicity toward normal 293T cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that they induced G2/M phase arrest by regulating Cyclin B1 and P21 expression, which was accompanied by ROS and Ca2+ accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption, and activation of the Caspase-9/3 cascade. Complex 2 showed superior antitumor activity to L1, and this finding was further supported by molecular docking analysis. In sum, Rh(III) complex 2 was identified as a selective and mechanistically defined anti-hepatocellular carcinoma lead compound, providing a potential strategy for the development of natural product-based metal anticancer agents.
More Related Videos
07:20Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
09:00An In Vitro Enzymatic Assay to Measure Transcription Inhibition by Gallium(III) and H3 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corroles
Published on: March 18, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
Coordination Number and Geometry