Abstract

A variety of biological activities, such as anti-microbial and anti-tumor properties was reported for 1,10-phenanthroline and its copper complexes. In this study, the anti-proliferative activity of a novel Cu(L)(phen) complex was investigated on MCF-7 breast cancer cells using MTT assay. Since chemotherapy is lake of ability to distinguish between normal cells from cancerous cells, therefore we also investigated the effect of Cu(L)(phen) complex on normal L929 cells. The results showed that following 24 and 48 h exposure of cells with Cu(L)(phen) complex, the IC50 values for MCF-7 were significantly lower than that recorded for L929 and normal cells were less sensitive than cancerous cells to the complex. Additionally, the Cu(L)(phen) complex displayed a time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxic response, with MCF-7 and L929 cells. Also flow cytometry findings suggest that Cu(L)(phen) complex is capable of decreasing cancer cell viability through apoptosis and did not efficiently activate the necrosis process.