Synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo activity as free radical scavengers of chlorido(p-cymene) complexes of ruthenium(II) containing N-alkylphenothiazines.

Three new ruthenium(II) complexes 1-3 containing N-alkylphenothiazine molecules were synthesized by reaction of [RuCl(2)(η(6)-p-cymene)](2) with chlorpromazine hydrochloride (1), trifluoperazine dihydrochloride (2) or thioridazine hydrochloride (3). The compounds of the general formula L[RuCl(3)(η(6)-p-cymene)] were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV-Vis, (1)H and (13)C NMR). Complex 2 was structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In vitro cytotoxic activity of complexes 1-3 were assayed in four human carcinoma cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-453 (breast carcinoma), SW-480 (colon carcinoma) and IM9 (myeloma multiple cells). The highest cytotoxicity (12.1 ≤ IC(50) ≤ 17.3 μM) and induced a total (SW-480) or almost total cell death (MCF-7, MDA-MB-453) at 25 μM in 48 h of treatment were observed for complex 2. The influence of three different doses (0.4, 4.5 and 90.4 μM/kg bw) of complex 2 on activities of antioxidants enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were investigated under physiological conditions. The effects on nitrite production (NO(2)(-)) and level of erythrocytes malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats blood were evaluated, too.