Biochemical Evaluation of Copper Compounds Derived from O- and N-/O- Donor Ligands

Compounds [Cu-II (2)(benz)(4)(Hbenz)(2)] (1) and [Cu-II(ppa)(2)(H2O)(2)] (n) (2), where benz = benzoate and ppa = 3-pyridinepropionic acid, were synthesized and studied for their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the inhibition of enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), lipoxygenase (LOX), urease, chymotrypsin and alpha-glucosidase. The synthesized compounds were also studied by hemolytic method for their cytotoxicity and found to be low-toxicity substances. For AChE inhibition, compound 2 showed IC50 = 31.22 +/- 0.45 mu M, as compared to compound 1with IC50 = 36.52 +/- 0.44 mu M. Both compounds showed comparably low activity against BChE and were also active against urease, but compound 1 exhibited selective anti-urease activity. The anti-alpha-glucosidase activity of both compounds was comparable with that of standard drug used.