Synthesis and comparative study of cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of Chalconoid-Co(II) metal complexes with 2-hydroxychalcones analogue containing naphthalene moiety

A series of six C1–C6 chalconoid based Co(II) complexes were prepared from bi-dentate 2-hydroxychalcones ligands L1-L6 containing naphthalene moiety. All synthesized metal-complexes have been evaluated to determine their cytotoxicity and anticancer activity against liver cancer cell line (Hep G2). Compared to standard 5-fluorouracil (IC₅₀ ?= ?98.61 ?μg/mL), the metal complex C6 exhibits more potency with IC₅₀ value 64.21 ?μg/mL against liver cancer cell line. While the remaining metal complexes such as C2, C4 and C5 are moderately active with IC₅₀ value 314.93, 414.05 and 376.00 ?μg/mL respectively. The complexes C1 and C3 with IC₅₀ value ?> ?1000 ?μg/mL are inadequate to display anticancer activity against Hep G2. Our perception towards the presence of organic group in the main structural moiety of complex C6 which associated with di-hydroxy (-OH) substituent at 3 and 4-position found more potent than complex C2, C4 and C5 which associated with halo (-Cl) substituent. The MTT assay revealed that the cytotoxicity and anticancer activity enhanced upon coordination of bio-ligand compared to free chalcone ligands. Therefore the present study may lead to the development of new class of anticancer drugs with structural modification.