Antinociceptive and antitumor activity of novel synthetic mononuclear Ruthenium (II) compounds

BACKGROUND: From the thousands of years, metal compounds have been used in medicine for treatment of various diseases including various types of cancers. Ruthenium was seen as a promising metal due to its similar kinetics to platinum and its lower toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the newer mononuclear ruthenium (II) compounds for antinociceptive and antitumor activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ruthenium (II) compounds were evaluated for antinociceptive and antitumor activity using the various in vitro and in vivo models. The compounds were injected to mice at concentrations of 1 and 2 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally and were screened for antinociceptive activity, and the antiproliferative effect was evaluated against murine leukemia cells (L1210), human T-lymphocyte cells (CEM) and human cervix carcinoma cells (HeLa) using MTT assay. RESULTS: The results for antitumor activity clearly indicated that compound R(1) was potent cytotoxic agent than R(2) with IC(50) values ranging from 4-6 μM for R(1), whereas IC(50) values for compound R(2) ranging from 65-103 μM. The compounds have shown a significant anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenan and dextran models but do not having the central analgesic activity, this indicating that the antinociceptive activity is related to the peripheral nervous system. The results for 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activity showed that both R(1) and R(2) compounds were found to be significant 5-LOX inhibitory activity with IC(50) values of 14.35 μg ml(-1) and 29.24 μg ml(-1) respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings concluded that the new ruthenium compounds might be the promising antiproliferative agents as these compounds showing significant 5-LOX inhibitory activity and potential agents in the management of pain related disorders.