Abstract
Two transition metal complexes with 2-((2-(pyridin-2-yl)hydrazono)methyl)quinolin-8-ol (L), [Cu(L)Cl₂]₂ (1) and [Ni(L)Cl₂]·CH₂Cl₂ (2), were synthesized and fully characterized. Complex 1 exhibited high in vitro antitumor activity against SK-OV-3, MGC80-3 and HeLa cells with IC(50) values of 3.69 ± 0.16, 2.60 ± 0.17, and 3.62 ± 0.12 μM, respectively. In addition, complex 1 caused cell arrest in the S phase, which led to the down-regulation of Cdc25 A, Cyclin B, Cyclin A, and CDK2, and the up-regulation of p27, p21, and p53 proteins in MGC80-3 cells. Complex 1 induced MGC80-3 cell apoptosis via a mitochondrial dysfunction pathway, as shown by the significantly decreased level of bcl-2 protein and the loss of Δψ, as well as increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular Ca(2+), cytochrome C, apaf-1, caspase-3, and caspase-9 proteins in MGC80-3 cells.