Background: Schiff bases and their metal complexes are emerging as key classes of medicinal compounds, possessing an enormous potential of biological activities like anticancer, anticonvulsant and antioxidant etc. The aim of this review is to examine the anticancer activity of different classes of Schiff bases and their metal complexes. <P></P> Methods: Anticancer activity of the already synthesized as well as the novel Schiff bases and their metal complexes was studied using different assays such as 3- [4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), PI staining, Sulforhodamine, Allium cepa, Sulfo- Rhodamine-B-stain(SRB), viability and potato disc against various human and animal cancer cell lines. <P></P> Results: The test results indicated significant differences in anticancer activity between subclasses of Schiff base compounds as well as between the Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes. Quinazolines showed a very high activity against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. Pyrazole-naphthalene derivatives exhibited high activity against numerous carcinoma cells while [Ni(HL1)2(OAc)2] showed the highest. Azosal and its tin(IV) complexes displayed high activity against U-1242 MG and excellent activity against HCT-116 cell lines. 2-thiouracil sulfonamides displayed high activity against MCF7, CaCo-2 carcinoma cells. Vitamin-B6 and its oxovanadium complex showed good activity against MCF-7, 3T3 and cervical cancer HeLa cancer cell lines in the presence of visible light. Indoles displayed high activity against AMJ13. Porphyrines derivatives exhibited good activity while its binuclear(Y and K) complexes displayed high activity against several carcinoma cells. Chitosan complexes of [Pd(II) and Pt(II)] showed a very high anticancer activity against MCF-7 carcinoma cell. <P></P> Conclusion: Schiff bases possess a high potential to inhibit carcinoma cells which enhanced with complexation, but the mechanism of their antitumor activity is still doubt.

As multidrug resistant pathogens are emerging, the search for novel potent drug candidates is ever going. Heterocycles are known by their broad spectrum of biological activities, so a search for a new drug from heterocycles can elevate the chance of success. e aim of this study was to obtain novel potent antimicrobial compounds. In line with this, 1H-imidazo [5, 6-f] [1,10] phenanthroline-2(3H)-thione and its complexes (Ni(II) and Cu(II)) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated against bacterial strains. e compounds were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N, and S), FT-IR, 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, AAS, UV-Vis spectra, and molar conductivity measurement. e results showed that the ligand is bidentate, and the molar conductivity measurement indicates that complexes are electrolytic. Electronic spectral study showed octahedral and distorted octahedral geometry for the Ni(II) and Cu(II) complex, respectively. e ligand and its complexes were screened against four bacterial strains using disk diffusion method. e result revealed that the Ni(II) complex showed more bioactivity than gentamicin against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while the Cu(II) complex is more active than the Ni(II) complex against Bacillus subtilis. Both Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes exhibit higher antibacterial activities than the free ligand.

Background: Green approach is among the most preferable methods for metal-based nanoparticles synthesis due to its simplicity, cost effectiveness, eco-friendly reagents and broad spectrum of biological activities. The aim of this study is to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles using Eichhornia Crassipes (Water hyacinth) leaf extract in an eco-friendly manner. Methods: Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using Eichhornia Crassipes (Water hyacinth) leaf extract. The effect of different parameters such as concentration of the plant extract, time, light and pH on the formation of the nanoparticles was investigated. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM and P-XRD spectroscopic techniques. The antibacterial and photocatalytic activities of the synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles were determined. Results: Powder X Ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) showed that the copper oxide nanoparticles have a size of 9.1 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images displayed that the Nps were spherical, polydispersed and well crystallized. The nanoparticles displayed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Bacillus stabtilus and Salmonella typhi with the highest activity against Salmonella typhi. Conclusion: Copper oxide nanoparticles were effectively synthesized and secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols acted as both capping and stabilizing agents. The good antibacterial and photocatalytic activities of the synthesized nanoparticles indicated their potential for applications in pharmacology and environmental protections respectively. However, the product needs further investigation to enhance its antibacterial potential for efficient pharmacological application.