# Assessment of the Biological Properties of N-Nonsubstituted Succinimides and Their Metallocarbonyl Complexes in Normal and Cancer Cells

## TL;DR

This study explores how certain succinimide compounds and their metal complexes affect normal and cancer cells, focusing on their toxicity, DNA damage, and antioxidant properties.

## Contribution

The study introduces new succinimide derivatives and their metallocarbonyl complexes, revealing their selective effects on cancer cells and antioxidant potential.

## Key findings

- Succinimides and their complexes showed low cytotoxicity in normal and cancer cells at lower concentrations.
- Compound 3 was significantly less genotoxic to cancer cells compared to its non-substituted analog.
- The compounds exhibited strong antioxidant properties, especially in restoring SOD activity in cancer cells under oxidative stress.

## Abstract

Succinimide derivatives display a broad spectrum of biological activities and are being explored for various medical applications, including the treatment of epilepsy, diabetes, and cancer, as well as cardiovascular and liver diseases. Ongoing research continues to yield new derivatives with promising therapeutic potential. This study evaluates the biological properties of 3-methoxysuccinimide (1), 3-butynyloxysuccinimide (2), and their metallocarbonyl complexes (η5-cyclopentadienyl)Fe(CO)2(η1-N-(3-methoxysuccinimidato)) (3) and (η5-cyclopentadienyl)Fe(CO)2(η1-N-(3-butynyloxysuccinimidato)) (4) in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) and HL-60 leukemic cells. We examined cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative, and antioxidative potential of these compounds. Succinimides and their complexes exhibited low cytotoxicity in both cell lines in the concentration range 3–50 μM. At 100 μM, only 3-methoxysuccinimide (1) reduced PBM cell viability, while all compounds significantly decreased HL-60 cell viability at this concentration. We also showed that all compounds caused a minor concentration-independent increase in DNA damage level. Interestingly, complex 3 was significantly less genotoxic for HL-60 cells compared to N-nonsubstituted analog (1). Succinimides 1 and 2 and their metallocarbonyl complexes 3 and 4 demonstrated strong antioxidant properties, especially in HL-60 cancer cells. They also restored SOD activity reduced by oxidative stress in cancer cells.