Introduction: Treatment of cancer has been subject of great interest. Researchers are continuously searching for new medicines. In this sense, ruthenium complexes have big potential. Some evidences suggest that ruthenium compounds possess anticancer activities. We synthesized two recently published ruthenium(III) complexes with bidentate O,N and tridentate O,O,N Schiff bases derived from 5-substituted salicylaldehyde and aminophenol or anilineare. These compounds showed affinity for binding to the DNA molecule, however, insufficient data are available regarding their possible toxic effects on biological systems.Methods: In the present study we evaluated genotoxic, cytotoxic, and cytostatic effects of Na[RuCl2(L1)2] and Na[Ru(L2)2], using the Allium cepa assay.Results: Different toxic effects were observed depending on the substance, tested concentration, and endpoint measured. In general, the tested compounds significantly lowered the root growth and mitotic index values as compared to the control group. Additionally, a wide range of abnormal mitotic stages, both clastogenic and non-clastogenic were observed in the treated cells. Na[RuCl2(L1)2] significantly increased the frequency of sticky metaphases, chromosome bridges, micronuclei, impaired chromosome segregation, as well as number of apoptotic and necrotic cells over the controls. In contrast, Na[Ru(L2)2] did not show significant evidence of genotoxicity with regard to chromosome aberrations and micronuclei, however, significant differences were detected in the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells when the highest concentration was applied.Conclusions: In this study we demonstrated antiproliferative effects of Na[RuCl2(L1)2] and Na[Ru(L2)2]. At clinical level, these results could be interesting for further studies on anticancer potential of the ruthenium(III) complexes using animal models.

A dinuclear Schiff base RuII complex derived from 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde and 2-aminopyridine was synthesized. The structure of the compound was analyzed by mass spectrometry as well as IR, UV/Vis, and 1H NMR spectroscopy, along with chemical analysis,as well as magnetic, cyclovoltammetric and conductivity measurements. Two RuII atoms are octahedrally coordinated by azomethine and pyridine nitrogen atoms from two tridentate monobasic Schiff bases and bridging phenol oxygen atoms. The formula of the complex is [Ru2L2Cl2(Et2NH)(H2O)] [L = N-(2-pyridyl)-5-chlorosalicylideneimine and Et2NH = isodiethylamine]. The RuII atoms in the dinuclear neutral complex species have different coordination environments, RuN3O2Cl and RuN2O3Cl. Interaction with CT DNA showed moderate hydrophobic binding. The compound demonstrates strong activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and especially Enterococcus faecalis. Microbiological tests showed significant inhibition of growth and ability to kill pathogens, similar or even improved compared to reference antibiotics vancomycin.

Eight samples of iron slag and two metallic artefacts from two Early Iron Age sites in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, ��olaci and Pod, were analysed using chemical instrumental methods. Atomic absorption spectrometry was applied to determine major (Fe, Al,Ca, Na, Mg, K and Mn) and trace elements (Cr, Cu, Co, Ni and Zn), while gravimetric method and molecular visible spectrometry were applied to determine Si and Ti, respectively. Infrared spectrum of selected samples was recorded during different phases ofanalysis and the results show that the primary ore was hematite. Results also indicate that residents from both sites, which are adjacent, used the same ore source. Low values of Ca, whose compounds are used as flux in later stages of the processing of iron ore, show that the processing of iron at the study sites was in the beginning stage of its development.Based on the obtained results, metallic artefacts found at the site ��olaci probably came from site Pod. Graphical presentation of the content relation ship between the selected metal oxides in the slag was preformed to present differences between samples from two sites. Analysis of trace elements in the analysed slags confirmed that they originate from Early Iron Age.

The interaction of CT DNA by two anionic Ru(III) complexes with N-substituted salicylidenimine ligands was investigated by spectroscopic titration and cyclic voltammetry. The result gives a surprising evidence for intercalation of DNA by the negatively charged complex species containing non typical intercalating ligands with Kb of order 10 M. Na[RuCl2(N-R-5-X-salim)2], where R represents butyl or phenyl and X = H, Cl, were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, infrared, UV / visible spectroscopic measurements and cyclic voltammetry. (doi: 10.5562/cca2216)