We have prepared several organometallic systems whose structures are closely analogous to that of tamoxifen, the drug used in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancers, but which now possess two basic aminoalkyl chains: O(CH₂)₃NMe₂. Despite the absence of a phenolic functionality, these ferrocenyl compounds 3, 4 and their organic analogue 5 recognize the estrogen receptor but in addition exhibit strong antiproliferative effects on hormone-dependent breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and also on hormone-independent ones (MDA-MB-231) with, in this case, an IC₅₀ value of about 0.4 μM. The ferrocenyl moiety does not create a major effect here compared to a purely organic aromatic group. On the other hand, the presence within the molecule of two vicinal basic entities, potentially allowing complexation to metal ions such as Zn²⁺, could perhaps be the key to the antiproliferative effectiveness of this series which operates via a different mechanism to that of hydroxytamoxifen 1 and hydroxyferrocifen 2. The behaviour of these new species is discussed. They possess the distinctive feature of combining a strong antiproliferative effect with intense antibacterial and antifungal activity.

This study deals with evaluating antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the peel of pea (Pisum sativum), with particular attention to the content of some bioactive compounds. Total content of polyphenols and flavonoids of Pisum sativum peel extracts, including a crude aqueous extract, a methanolic extract and an ethyl acetate extract was carried out according to the standard methods to assess their corresponding antioxidant activities. The organic solvents extracts antioxidant activities, determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, ferric reducing (FRAP) assay and 2,2 azinobis 3-ethylbenzo-thiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, were relatively high. The highest activity was found in ethyl acetate extract. The antimicrobial activities of extracts were also assessed. The highest MIC value was occurred with E.Coli (850 µg/ml) when using ethyl acetate extract. From the results obtained, Pisum sativum peel can be considered as a very good source of health promoting compounds.

The crown gall induced in potato discs by Agrobacterium tumefaciens is becoming largely utilised in screening anti-tumor agents. The present work is showing that beet discs are more adequate for the anti-tumor screening test. In fact, maximal tumor induction was observed on beet discs (87.5%), followed by carrot discs (75%) and potato discs (68.5%). Beet discs present the most sensibility to crown gall disease with a fast expression of symptoms and more visible galls without any staining need. The beet discs bioassay was carried out by using some synthesized organometallics known for their antitumor activity in mammalian cells. We found significant crown gall inhibition (20.7% to 40.55%) of the tested compounds. Overall results supported that beet bioassay might be a potential prescreen system of anti-tumor molecules in mammalian cells.

In a previous work we have demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of ferrocenyl or phenyl derivatives of diphenyl butene series. This finding has opened a new area of applications of organometallic compounds. In order to improve these activities, we have synthesized new organic and organometallic diaryl butene compounds with different lengths of their amino chains. These new compounds, and also their ammonium salts, were tested against man pathogenic microorganisms Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541). It emerged from the tests that the Gram+ bacteria are more sensitive to the compounds than Gram-, and the compounds with 3 carbon amino chains have a better antimicrobial activity than the one having a chain of 2 or 4 carbons. The transformation of compounds to citrate salts was accompanied by a significant regression of antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, for both organic and ferrocenic molecules. This resistance problem has been solved using hydrochlorides salts rather than citrates one.