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Four new ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(N–N) 2 (dhbn)](ClO 4 ) 2 (N–N = dmb: 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine 1 ; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine 2 ; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline 3 ; dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline 4 ) were synthesized and characterized. The cytotoxicity in vitro of the ligand and complexes toward HepG-2, HeLa, MG-63 and A549 were assayed by MTT method. The IC 50 values of the complexes against the above cells range from 17.7 ± 1.1 to 45.1 ± 2.8 μM. The cytotoxic activity of the complexes against HepG-2 cells follows the order of 4 > 2 > 3 > 1 . Ligand shows no cytotoxic activity against the selected cell lines. Cellular uptake, apoptosis, comet assay, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle arrest, and the expression of proteins involved in apoptosis pathway induced by the complexes were investigated. The results indicate that complexes 1–4 induce apoptosis in HepG-2 cells through an intrinsic ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to investigate DNA-binding and cytotoxic activity of the four new Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(dmb) 2 (HMHPIP)](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 1 ), [Ru(bpy) 2 (HMHPIP)](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 2 ), [Ru(phen) 2 (HMHPIP)](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 3 ) and [Ru(dmp) 2 (HMHPIP)](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 4 ). The complexes interact with DNA through intercalative mode and show relatively high cytotoxic activity against A549 cells, no cytotoxicity toward MG-63 cells. Complexes 1 – 4 can enhance the levels of ROS in A549 cells and induce the decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential. These complexes inhibit the cell growth in A549 cells at G0/G1 or S phase. Complex 3 activated caspase 7, and down-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Complexes 1 – 4 induce apoptosis in A549 cells through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]