Metal complexes of curcumin – synthetic strategies, structures and medicinal applications

Abstract

This Tutorial Review presents an overview on the synthesis, characterization and applications of metal complexes containing curcumin (=1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) and its derivatives as ligands. Innovative synthetic strategies leading to soluble and crystallizable metal curcumin complexes are outlined in detail. Special emphasis is placed on the highly promising and exciting medicinal applications of metal curcumin complexes, with the three most important areas being anticancer activity and selective cytotoxicity, anti-Alzheimer's disease activity, and antioxidative/neuroprotective effects. Overall, this Tutorial Review provides the first general overview of this emerging and rapidly expanding field of interdisciplinary research.

New Bioactive Heteroleptic Copper(II) Carboxylates: Structure, Enzymatic and DNA-Binding Studies

“…This moderate enzyme inhibition capacity of complexes is attributed to their ability of blocking the active sites on enzyme surface because of presence of electrophile and nucleophile acceptor centers present in the synthesized complexes. 52,53 Some copper complexes with curcumin and bis(thiosemicarbazones) have been reported which exhibit anti-Alzheimer activity through different routes, while other copper complexes with 2-(diphenylmethylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide, Schiff bases and flavanone have shown good anticholinesterase activity, yet no heteroleptic copper(II) complexes with phenyl acetic acid and N-donor ligands have been It is proposed that in synthesized copper complexes the presence of fused pyridines and carboxylate ligands facilitates the transport of these complexes across the cell membrane and structural flexibility provided by carboxylate ligand enhances the chances of binding metal center of the complex with electron donors such as nitrogen present on the active site of enzyme and eventually inhibiting its activity. Moreover, from the literature it is evident that higher the capacity of inhibitor to establish hydrogen bonds with hydrogen donor and acceptors centers present on active site of an enzyme higher will be the inhibitory activity.…”

Syntheses, crystal structures and in vitro anticancer activities of oxovanadium(IV) complexes of amino acid Schiff base and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands

“…These drawbacks limit the use and efficiency of cisplatin and related Pt(II) complexes in cancer therapy [3][4][5]. These considerations have stimulated the search for new non-platinum anticancer agents that possess reduced side effects, lower resistance, lower cost and greater efficacy toward a wider range of cancers [6,7]. Hence, in the past few decades, transition metal complexes have been extensively studied as anticancer and antibacterial agents [8,9].…”

Turmeric Curcuminoid Polyphenolics as Antioxidant and Anticarcinogenic Agents

“…It reacts with boric acid and gives a red coloured compound, known as rosocyanine (29). Rosocyanine is formed as 2:1 complex from curcumin and boric acid in acidic solutions.…”

“…(29) It has been put forwarded that innovative synthetic strategies lead to soluble and crystallisable metal curcumin complexes (29). Also, it was described that the special emphasis is placed on the highly promising and exciting medicinal applications of metal curcumin complexes, with the three most important areas being anticancer activity and selective cytotoxicity, antiAlzheimer's disease activity, and antioxidative/neuroprotective effects (29).…”