Tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methylium salts as a novel class of antitumor agents

Tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methanes were obtained and oxidized into tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methylium salts. The resulting salts are more toxic to cultured tumor cells than to non-tumor ones. The cytotoxicity of tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methylium salts depends on the length of the substituent at the N atom of the heterocycle, increasing from an N-unsubstituted derivative toward N-butyl- and N-pentyl derivatives. A further increase in the length of the N-alkyl substituent lowers the cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methylium salts for tumor cells correlates with their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Tris(1-alkylindol-3-yl)methylium salts produced a cytocide effect on Gram-positive microorganisms and the most active compounds, on Gram-negative microorganisms as well. Similar patterns of the structure—activity relationship of N-alkylated tris(indol-3-yl)methylium derivatives, which was observed for various lines of tumor cells, bacteria, and fungi, suggest the general character of the mechanisms of the death of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells induced by these compounds.