Exploring the therapeutic potential of ruthenium(II)-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine complex on MDA-MB-231, HCT-116 and normal L6 cell lines.

[Display omitted] • The in vitro anticancer efficacy and cytotoxicity of the [Ru(bbp) 2 ]2+ complex were studied. • Investigated on human breast cancerous MDA-MB-231, colorectal HCT-116, and normal cell L6 cell lines. • The IC 50 values of the complex on MDA-MB-231, HCT-116 and normal L6 cell lines are calculated as 28.71, 9.06 and 153.82 µM. • The morphological changes in the cell lines of the complex are evidenced from the generation of reactive oxygen species. • The results showed a better anticancer activity of sample and can be useful for novel anticancer drugs. The in vitro anticancer efficacy and cytotoxicity of the [Ru(bbp) 2 ]2+ complex (bbp = 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine) on human breast cancerous MDA-MB-231, colorectal HCT-116, and normal cell lines were investigated by direct microscopic and MTT assay methods. The synthesised [Ru(bbp) 2 ]2+ complex was characterised by UV–visible, FTIR, 1H NMR, and MALDI-TOF-MS spectroscopic techniques. The complex showed a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption peak at 481 nm. The FTIR spectrum of the complex showed absorption bands in the range of 3458–573 cm−1. The 1H NMR chemical shift values resembled those of the bbp ligand. The molecular ion peak (M+) of the [Ru(bbp) 2 ]2+ complex was obtained at m / z 1013.48. The IC 50 values of the complex on MDA-MB-231, HCT-116 and normal L6 cell lines were calculated from the percentage cellular viability and are found to be 28.71, 9.06 and 153.82 µM respectively. The morphological changes in the cell lines at various concentrations of the complex were attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The obtained result revealed that the anticancer activity of the synthesised complex depends on the concentration of the complex. The complex reduced the proportion of viable cells in both malignant cell lines, causing apoptosis. The results suggeseted that the synthesised complex showed good anticancer activity on the MDA-MB-231 and HCT-116 cell lines with low cytotoxicity. Thus, the present investigation paved the way for the development of novel anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]