Gold-NHC complexes as potent bioactive compounds

Abstract

This report describes the evaluation of the biological activities of 13 gold-NHC complexes. These complexes were evaluated in vitro for their antioxidant properties, α-glucosidase, thymidine phosphorylase, β-glucuronidase and xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibition activities. Among the tested complexes, those bearing chloride ligands were found to be potent antioxidant, α-glucosidase, thymidine phosphorylase, β-glucuronidase and xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitors, showing several hundred fold higher activity than the standard drugs. Some of these complexes were found to be potent antileishmanial agents, which were superior to standard antileishmanil drugs. These gold complexes were also evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against PC-3 (normal cells), HeLa (cervical cancer), MCF-3 (breast cancer) and 3T3 (mouse fibroblast) cell lines.