Ligand substituent effect on the cytotoxicity activity of two new copper(<scp>ii</scp>) complexes bearing 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives: validated by MTT assay and apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cell line (human breast cancer)
Arif Ali, Somesh Banerjee, Saima Kamaal, Mohammad Usman, Neeladrisingha Das, Mohd Afzal, Abdullah Alarifi, Nayim Sepay, Partha Roy, Musheer Ahmad
Abstract
nuclear condensation and membrane destabilization followed by apoptosis as a result of metal-assisted generation of reactive oxygen species. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 1 and 2 might prompt early apoptosis in MCF-7 cells as the maximum percentage of cells appeared in the LR quadrant. Furthermore, mRNA expression analysis confirmed that both the complexes induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Comparative mRNA expression analysis of complexes with their respective ligands also confirmed the enhanced apoptotic behavior of complexes. Furthermore, molecular docking studies of the complexes have also been performed with the active site of EGFR kinase receptors (major target for any cancer causing agent) due to similar analogues with FDA-approved EGFR inhibitors in order to rationalize its promising cytotoxicity activity.