A series of novel 2-(quinolin-2-yl)-spiro[oxindole-3,3′-pyrrolines] were synthesized by one-pot three-component reaction involving dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, 1-phenylimidazo[1,5-a]quinoline and N-alkylisatins in chloroform at ∼60 °C for 24 h. Structures of these new spiro derivatives were deduced from HRMS and NMR spectral data. A plausible mechanism for the observed thermodynamic control pathway is presented herewith. Interestingly, the spiro adduct, derived from 5-chloro-1-methylisatin, exhibited excellent antiproliferative activity on MCF7, A549 and Hela human cell lines (IC₅₀ ≃ 7 μM).

Four new complexes derived from adamantly containing hydrazone (APH) ligand with Cu(II) (1), Co(II) (2), Ni(II) (3) and Zn(II) (4), have been synthesized and characterized using different physicochemical methods. The structure of the ligand APH and its copper complex 1 have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction direct methods, which reveal that complex 1 has distorted square-pyramidal geometry. Complexes 1–4 are screened against seven human cancer cell lines namely, breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, T47D, MDA-MB-231), prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU145) and the colorectal cancer cell line Coco-2, for their antiproliferative activities. Complex 1 has shown a promising anticancer activity compared to the other ones. The structural and spectroscopic analysis of APH and its complexes are confirmed by DFT calculations.

A copper complex with square planar geometry, [(L)CuBr₂] (1), (L = N′-(furan-2-ylmethylene)adamantne-1-carbohydrazide) has been synthesized and characterized by Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal of 1 is solved as monoclinic, space group P2₁/m with unit cell parameters: a = 10.8030(8), b = 6.6115(8), c = 12.1264(12) Å, β = 101.124(8)°, V = 849.84(15) ų, Z = 2, and R₁ = 0.0751 with wR₂ = 0.1581 (I > 2 σ). The structure of 1 shows intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the N–H and the furan oxygen which stabilizes the configuration of the complex. Furthermore, inside the lattice there are other weak interactions between bromo ligands and the ligand L. DFT calculations where performed to study the stability of this geometry.

Centaurium erythraea Rafn. (CE) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to cure several illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate the LC-MS phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, in vivo topical anti-inflammatory effects and acute oral toxicity of the methanolic (MethE) and the decoction extract (DecE) of this plant. A qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed. The qualitative analysis indicated the presence of phenolic compounds: phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, quinones, terpenes and alkaloids while the anthraquinone, coumarins and proteins were absent. For the quantitative analysis, LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of ascorbic acid, rutin, synergic acid, luteolin and other phenolic compounds in the extracts. Furthermore, the results showed that the DecE present high amounts in polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins with highest values of 77.61 µg gallic acid equivalent/ mg of extract; 19.17 µg quercetin equivalent/ mg of extract and 81.70 µg catechin equivalent/mg dry extract, respectively. For the antioxidant activity, DecE showed an IC50 of 119.00 and 85.32 µg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging and the reducing power, respectively. This extracts showed a percentage of inhibition of 86.11 % in the anti-inflammatory activity. CE was not toxic even at 2 g/kg body weight. This suggests that this plant confirms the purposes of the plant in folk medicine and is a potential source of organic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Keywords Centaurium erythraea Rafn. LC-MS/MS analysis Antioxidant activity Anti-inflammatory activity Toxicity