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.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Breast cancer; Cytotoxicity; MCF-7 cell line; [Cu(L)(phen)] complex.