Synthesis, structural elucidation, DNA binding, cleavage, AChE and BuChE cholinesterase efficiencies of metal complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline scaffold

Abstract

A series of metal complexes containing a 1,10-phenanthroline scaffold [ML] (L-1,10-Phenanthroline derivative comprises conjugated aromatic core and electron withdrawing –NO2 group); M = Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) ions were designed and synthesized to obtain effective anti-cholinesterase efficiencies of metal chelates. Analytical and spectroscopic studies were used to determine the structural features. An octahedral structure with moderate distortion was attributed to the above metal chelates based on spectroscopic data. S. aureus, A. niger, C. albicans, B.subtilis, A. flavus, and E. coli were used to test the antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized ligands and metal complexes. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, the DNA fragmentation proficiency of prepared metal complexes was tested on pUC 18 DNA. The distorted octahedral geometry of the copper(II) complex to DNA (K b = 4.11 × 105 M−1) is stronger than that of ethidium bromide (EB) to DNA (K b = 3.3 × 105 M−1) and other metal complexes, respectively. The synthesized 1,10-phenanthroline derivative had the best inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, with IC50 values of 0.45 and 3.6 M, respectively, which were lower than the reference molecules. Our experimental results may contribute to the development of new drug molecules particularly in the treatment of neurological disorders including glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. The actions of inhibitors on the glycosidase enzyme help to delay the breakdown and release of sugar molecules into the bloodstream, and they can be used as therapeutic factors in the treatment of diabetes.