Anticancer and antimicrobial activities of a novel 4-nitrobenzohydrazone and the Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) complexes

Abstract

Antimicrobial and anticancer activities against prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells by Schiff base derived from novel 4-Nitrobenzohydrazone ligand and its Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) complexes are reported in this study. Characterizations by conventional spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses suggest successful syntheses. The cobalt complex, Co(HL)2 was found to be moderately effective on both Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 35032 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231, other compounds did not affect the test microorganisms. Results indicated that the compounds are effective on both prostate and breast cell lines at concentrations between 5 and 40 μM, and exhibit their effects by apoptotic mechanisms. The complex Mn(HL)2 could be a potential candidate against prostate cancer cells (PC-3). The interactions of ligand and complexes with biological targets were predicted by molecular docking which indicated high binding affinities, and artificial neural network explained their anticancer activities. Density functional theoretical calculations corroborated experimental findings.