Direct Electron Transfer-Driven Nontoxic Oligomeric Deposition of Sulfonamide Antibiotics onto Carbon Materials for In Situ Water Remediation.

The rising in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) technologies based on polymerization reactions have advanced the removal of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. However, despite their promise, uncertainties persist regarding their effectiveness in eliminating structurally complex contaminants, such as sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs). This study elucidated that oligomerization, rather than mineralization, predominantly governs the removal of SAs in the carbon materials/periodate system. The amine groups in SAs played a crucial role in forming organic radicals and subsequent coupling reactions due to their high f- index and low bond orders. Moreover, the study highlighted the robust adhesion of oligomers to the catalyst surface, facilitated by enhanced van der Waals forces and hydrophobic interactions. Importantly, plant and animal toxicity assessments confirmed the nontoxic nature of oligomers deposited on the carbon material surface, affirming the efficacy of carbon material-based ISCO in treating contaminated surface water and groundwater. Additionally, a novel classification approach, Δlog k, was proposed to differentiate SAs based on their kinetic control steps, providing deeper insights into the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and facilitating the selection of optimal descriptors during the oligomerization processes. Overall, these insights significantly enhance our understanding of SAs removal via oligomerization and demonstrate the superiority of C-ISCO based on polymerization in water decontamination.

Plasmon-Mediated Photoelectrochemical Hot-Hole Oxidation Coupling Reactions of Adenine on Nanostructured Silver Electrodes.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been widely applied in the identification and characterization of DNA structures with high efficiency. Especially, the SERS signals of the adenine group have exhibited high detection sensitivity in several biomolecular systems. However, there is still no unanimous conclusion regarding the interpretation of some special kinds of SERS signals of adenine and its derivatives on silver colloids and electrodes. This Letter presents a new photochemical azo coupling reaction for adenyl residues, in which the adenine is selectively oxidized to (E)-1,2-di(7H-purin-6-yl) diazene (azopurine) in the presence of silver ions, silver colloids, and electrodes of nanostructures under visible light irradiation. The product, azopurine, is first found to be responsible for the SERS signals. This photoelectrochemical oxidative coupling reaction of adenine and its derivatives is promoted by plasmon-mediated hot holes and is regulated by positive potentials and pH of solutions, which opens up new avenues for studying azo coupling in the photoelectrochemistry of adenine-containing biomolecules on electrode surfaces of plasmonic metal nanostructures.

Withanolides isolated from Tubocapsicum anomalum and their antiproliferative activity.

Seven undescribed withanolides (1-7) and six artificial withanolides (8-13), along with 20 known compounds (14-33) were isolated from the aerial parts of Tubocapsicum anomalum. Their structures were confirmed by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was defined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. All isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative effects against five human tumor cell lines (Hep3B, MDA-MB-231, SW480, HCT116 and A549), among which compound 24 (tubocapsanolide A) exhibited the highest activities against the MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 value of 1.89 ± 1.03 µM. Further studies showed that 24 exhibited significant damage to mitochondria in MDA-MB-231 cells, including excess reactive oxygen species, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis initiation. In addition, compound 24 also inhibited cell migration. These findings show that tubocapsanolide A may be a promising molecule for triple-negative breast cancer treatment and merit further evaluation.

Identification, characterization and expression profiles of PSEN2 in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

The gene PSEN2 encodes presenilin-2, a subunit of γ-secretase. Mutations in PSEN2 are not only related to Alzheimer's disease but are also involved in other diseases. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a potential animal model for Alzheimer's disease, although little is known about its cDNA sequence, protein structure, and PSEN2 expression. To better understand PSEN2 in the tree shrew, we cloned this gene by rapid amplification of cDNA ends technology. Hence, we analyzed the sequence and molecular characteristics of PSEN2 mRNA, predicted its spatial structure, and analyzed its expression profiles. We found that tree shrew PSEN2 is 1539 base pairs in length and encodes 330 amino acids. It is homologous and genetically similar to humans (97.64% identity). The protein structure of tree shrew PSEN2 indicated similarities to human PSEN2, both being comprised of numerous transmembrane helices. However, tree shrew PSEN2 possesses seven α-helices, and thus lacks three compared with human PSEN2. Tree shrew PSEN2 mRNAs were ubiquitously detected in all tissues, with a tissue- and temporal-specific pattern. These results pave the way towards the function of tree shrew PSEN2, which will give insights into the mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative and other diseases in humans.

Natural Products and Derivatives Targeting at Cancer Energy Metabolism: A Potential Treatment Strategy.

In the 1920s, Dr Otto Warburg first suggested the significant difference in energy metabolism between malignant cancer cells and adjacent normal cells. Tumor cells mainly adopt the glycolysis as energy source to maintain tumor cell growth and biosynthesis under aerobic conditions. Investigation on energy metabolism pathway in cancer cells has aroused the interest of cancer researchers all around the world. In recent years, plentiful studies suggest that targeting the peculiar cancer energy metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation may be an effective strategy to starve cancer cells by blocking essential nutrients. Natural products (NPs) are considered as the "treasure trove of small molecules drugs" and have played an extremely remarkable role in the discovery and development of anticancer drugs. And numerous NPs have been reported to act on cancer energy metabolism targets. Herein, a comprehensive overview about cancer energy metabolism targets and their natural-occurring inhibitors is prepared.

Triterpenoids from Anchusa italica and their protective effects on hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cardiomyocytes injury.

Six new triterpenoids (1-6) and 22 known analogues (7-28), were separated from the aerial parts of Anchusa italica Retz., a traditional Uygur medicine for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the Xinjiang region, China. The possible effects of compounds 1-28 on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced cardiomyocytes injury were assayed, and compounds 4, 6-17, 21-22 and 26-28 showed significant protective effects. Further, the representative new compound 6 significantly suppressed the levels of H/R-induced apoptosis and autophagy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, with the reversing of the downregulated expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated expression of Bax and Beclin-1 by compound 6 treatment in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes following H/R injury. In addition, compound 6 protected cardiomyocyte from H/R injury, and pretreatment with 6 could decrease CK and LDH levels. Compound 6 also alleviated H/R-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Therefore, tripterpenoid 6 and its analogues may be the pharmacodyamic material of A. italica, and offer a promising therapeutic approach for treating cardiomyocyte injury induced by H/R.

Tin thiocarbonohydrazone complexes: synthesis, crystal structures and biological evaluation.

In this article, three organotin complexes formulated as [(Me)2Sn(H2L1)] (1), [(Ph)2Sn(H2L1)]·MeOH (2) and [(Me)2Sn(HL2)(OAc)]4(Me)2O (3) (H4L1 = bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) thiocarbohydrazone and H2L2 = bis(2-acetylpyrazine) thiocarbonohydrazone) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Growth inhibition assays indicated that both the proligands and the three complexes are capable of showing anticancer activity against the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with H2L2 and complex 3 showing much higher cytotoxic potential. Subsequent toxicity studies on normal QSG7701cells showed that complex 3 has the highest tumor cell selectivity, and its IC50 value on QSG7701 cells is 8.48 fold higher than that in HepG2 cells. In acute toxicity experiments, complex 3 produces a dose-dependent effect in NIH mice with a LD50 value of 17.2 mg kg-1.

Study of etiology and clinical characteristics of pertussis-like syndrome in children / 中国实用儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology and clinical characteristics of pertussis-like syndrome. METHODS: Thenasopharyngeal secretionscollectedfrompatientswithpertussis-likesymptominChildren's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from February 2016 to December 2017 were detected for pertussis DNA using PCR assays and other microbiological assessment. RESULTS: A total of 197 children were enrolled in the study,of whom 119(60.4%)patients were positive for Bordetella pertussis,and 37 cases(37.8%)were positive for other pathogens,including 14 cases(37.8%)of rhinovirus,14 cases(37.8%)of Mycoplasma pneumoniae,4 cases(10.8%)of human bocavirus,3 cases(8.1%)of parainfluenza virus and1 case(2.7%)of respiratory syncytial virus,and 1 case(2.7%)of Haemophilus influenzae. There were no significant differences in mean age,paroxysmal cough,inspiratory whoop,posttussive vomiting,paroxysmal cyanosis,or pulmonary signs between pertussis group and pertussis-like syndrome group(P>0.05). The proportion of male in pertussis group(57.1% vs. 35.3%),white blood cell counts[(18.83±11.54)×10~9/L vs.(12.46±6.01)×10~9/L)],lymphocyte counts[(10.62±8.48)×10~9/L vs.(6.54±5.13)×10~9/L)]were significantly higher than those in pertussis-like syndrome group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rhinovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are the main pathogens of pertussis-like syndrome. Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts can be used as an index to differentiate pertussis from pertussis-like syndrome.

Less toxic zinc(ii), diorganotin(iv), gallium(iii) and cadmium(ii) complexes derived from 2-benzoylpyridine N,N-dimethylthiosemicarbazone: synthesis, crystal structures, cytotoxicity and investigations of mechanisms of action.

Four metal complexes based on 2-benzoylpyridine N,N-dimethylthiosemicarbazone (Bp44mT) were designed. Free ligand and zinc(ii), diorganotin(iv), gallium(iii) and cadmium(ii) complexes all demonstrated pronounced activity, which was indicated using the growth inhibition test in vitro. Interestingly, most of the compounds were found to be selective against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells but had little effect on normal hepatocyte (QSG7701) cells. In particular, Zn(Bp44mT)2 (1) exhibited toxicity on QSG7701 cells which approximately 12-fold lower than that on HepG2 cells. The studies of mechanisms of action indicated that 1 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a dose-dependent manner via the mitochondria transduction pathway. Protein analyses showed that 1 significantly promoted p21 and p53 gene expression, causing caspase-3 activation.

Theoretical study of the spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of trans- and cis-4-hydroxyazobenzene.

We investigate the molecular structure, vibrational and electronic absorption spectra, and electronic hyperpolarizabilities of trans and cis isomers of 4-hydroxyazobenzene (HOAB) via density functional theory. Results show that the azo dye exhibits a high third-order nonlinear optical response and good optical transparency. Both the basis set and the functional are important influences on the results obtained when calculating the absorption spectrum and NLO response. We also study the effect of the solvent on the electronic absorption spectrum to assess the ability of the functional to reproduce the experimental spectrum in combination with a suitable solvent model. Our calculations show that the SMD model of Truhlar et al. handles the electrostatic and the non-electrostatic effects of hydrogen-bonding solvents on the absorption spectrum better than the traditional polarizable continuum model does. In addition, our results indicate that the dye trans-HOAB exhibits a high second hyperpolarizability and excellent optical transparency. Also, although the second hyperpolarizability of cis-HOAB is much lower than that of trans-HOAB, it is non-negligible when calculating the optical nonlinearity of HOAB under an optical pump. We also examine the effect of frequency dispersion on second harmonic generation. This study provides the basis for further research on the spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of novel azo dyes and other π-conjugated compounds.

Cu(ii), Ga(iii) and In(iii) complexes of 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone: synthesis, spectral characterization and biological activities.

In this paper, synthesis and characterization of metal complexes [Cu2(L)3]ClO4 (1), [Ga(L)2]NO3·2H2O (2) and [In(L)2]NO3·H2O (3) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone) was carried out, including elemental analysis, spectral analysis (IR, UV-vis, NMR), and X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 contains one S-bridged binuclear [Cu2(L)3]+ unit, where two Cu atoms display diverse coordination geometries: one being square planar geometry and the other octahedral geometry. Both 2 and 3 are mononuclear complexes, and the metal centers in 2 and 3 are chelated by two NNS tridentate ligands possessing a distorted octahedral geometry. Biological studies show that all the complexes possess a wide spectrum of modest to effective antibacterial activities and remarkable cytotoxicities against HepG2 cells, and 1, in particular, with an IC50 value of 0.19 ± 0.06 µM, is 113-fold and 28-fold more cytotoxic than HL and the antitumor drug mitoxantrone, respectively. In addition, 3 exhibits excellent photoluminescence properties. Upon the addition of 1 equiv of In3+ ions, a remarkable fluorescence intensity of HL and fluorescent color change (from transparent to light-green) could be observed with 365 nm light, indicating that this ligand may be used as a promising colorimetric and fluorescent probe for In3+ detection.

Study on exosite inhibitor of cathepsin K from Herba Ecliptae fractions / 药学学报

Cathepsin K (CTSK) is considered a critical pharmaceutical target in the treatment of osteoporosis. CTSK exerts proteolytic activities against regulatory proteins besides its collagenase function, which may account for some of the adverse reactions when blocked by active site-directed inhibitors. Exosite inhibitors that can discriminate between the therapeutic collagenase and other biological activities of CTSK specifically inhibit the collagenase activity of CTSK without interfering with the other proteolytic activities of the protease. Active recombinant CTSK was expressed in Pichia pastoris, and purified by n-butyl sepharose and SP sepharose column chromatography. Herba Ecliptae is a common traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of bone diseases. Collagenase assay and benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-FR-MCA) substrate assay based on CTSK are applied to verify the exosite inhibitors. n-Butanol extract of Herba Ecliptae are the most active fraction and eclalbasaponin IX isolated from n-butanol fraction is the potential exosite inhibitor of CTSK.

Ciz1 is a novel predictor of survival in human colon cancer.

Cip1-interacting zinc-finger protein1 (Ciz1) is a nuclear matrix protein associated DNA replication factor which has been implicated in breast and lung cancer progression. However, the clinical significance of Ciz1 expression in colon cancer has not been determined. This study aimed to examine Ciz1 expression pattern and its potential as a biomarker of prognosis in colon cancer. Using quantitative PCR, tissue microarray (TMA), and ELISA, we evaluated Ciz1 mRNA and protein levels in tumor tissues from patients with colon cancer and in paired adjacent normal tissues. Ciz1 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in 22 of 39 paired samples (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry on TMA-containing samples from 203 colon cancer patients indicated that Ciz1 protein expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues (Stuart-Maxwell test, P < 0.001). Elevated expression of Ciz1 protein was significantly correlated with T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.005), M stage (P = 0.021), and AJCC stage (P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox proportion hazard model analysis revealed that Ciz1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall time (OS; hazard ratio (HR): 1.76; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-2.98; P = 0.034) and disease-free survival (DFS; HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.14-3.58; P = 0.017) of patients with colon cancer after colectomy. Our data suggested that Ciz1 may be involved in colon cancer progression and could serve as a novel predictor of survival for colon cancer patients.

Synthesis, crystal structure and biological evaluation of a main group seven-coordinated bismuth(III) complex with 2-acetylpyridine N4-phenylthiosemicarbazone.

Up to now, bismuth(III) complexes with thiosemicarbazones have been comparatively rare. Here, a main group seven-coordinated bismuth(III) complex [Bi(L)(NO3)2(CH3CH2OH)] (1) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxicity data suggest that 1 exhibits higher in vitro antiproliferative activity in four human cancer cells tested. Its possible apoptotic mechanism has been evaluated in HepG2 cells. Compound 1 promotes a dose-dependent apoptosis in HepG2 cells and the apoptosis is associated with an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

A nine-coordinated bismuth(III) complex derived from pentadentate 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis((4)N-methylthiosemicarbazone): crystal structure and both in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation.

Up to now, bismuth(III) complexes with thiosemicarbazones have been comparatively rare. Few in vivo biological studies have been carried out in comparison to the plentiful in vitro data. Here, an interesting nine-coordinated bismuth(III) complex, [Bi(H2L)(NO3)2]NO3 [1; H2L = 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis((4)N-methylthiosemicarbazone)], has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The analytical data reveal the formation of 1:1 (metal/ligand) stoichiometry. In vitro biological studies have indicated that the bismuth complex 1 has shown much higher antibacterial and anticancer activities than its parent ligand, especially with MIC = 10.66 µM against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium and IC50 = 26.8 µM against K562 leukemia cells, respectively. More importantly, it also evidently inhibits H22 xenograft tumor growth on tumor-bearing mice (10 mg/kg; inhibitory rate = 61.6%). These results indicate that coordination to bismuth(III) might be an interesting strategy in the discovery of new anticancer drug candidates.

[Association between gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor 4(KLF4) in gastric cancer, and its association with prognosis. METHODS: Surgical specimens were collected from 264 patients undergoing radical surgery between 2004 and 2009 in the Affiliated Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University. KLF4 mRNA level of specimens was detected by real-time PCR. KLF4 protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray, which contained primary gastric cancer, corresponding para-cancerous tissue, and paired lymph node metastases. RESULTS: Real-time PCR revealed that mRNA level of KLF4 was down-regulated in gastric cancer compared with paired normal gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray showed gastric cancer tissues had significantly lower KLF4 levels compared with paired normal gastric tissues. By univariate and multivariate analysis, KLF4 was a significant predictor of survival and recurrence. CONCLUSION: KLF4 expression is significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer, and is an independent predictor of survival and recurrence.

Synthesis, crystal structures, in vitro biological evaluation of zinc(II) and bismuth(III) complexes of 2-acetylpyrazine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone.

Two metal complexes formulated as [Zn(L)(2)](2)·H(2)O (1) and [Bi(L)(NO(3))(2)(CH(3)OH)] (2), where HL=2-acetylpyrazine N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Biological studies, carried out in vitro against selected bacteria and the K562 leukemia cell lines, respectively, have shown that the free ligand and its two complexes may be endowed with important biological properties, especially HL with MIC=3.90 µg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the zinc(II) complex 1 with IC(50)=1.0 µM against K562 leukemia cell lines, respectively. The compounds HL and 1 may exert their cytotoxicity activity via induced loss of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP).

Downregulation of metallothionein 1F, a putative oncosuppressor, by loss of heterozygosity in colon cancer tissue.

PURPOSE: Downregulation of metallothionein (MT) genes has been reported in several tumors with discrepant results. This study is to investigate molecular mechanism of MT gene regulation in colon cancer which is characterized by tumor suppressor gene alterations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Integral analysis of microarray data with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) information was employed. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to validate MT isoform expression in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. The effects of MT1F expression on RKO cell survival and tumorigenesis was analyzed. Bisulphite sequencing PCR (BSP) and methylation-specific PCR were employed to detect the methylation status of the MT1F gene in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. DNA sequencing was used to examine the LOH at the MT1F locus. RESULTS: MT1F, MT1G, MT1X, and MT2A gene expression was significantly downregulated in colon cancer tissue (p<0.05). Exogenous MT1F expression increased RKO cell apoptosis and inhibited RKO cell migration, invasion and adhesion as well as in vivo tumorigenicity. Downregulation of MT1F gene in majority of human colon tumor tissues is mainly through mechanism by loss of heterozygosity (p=0.001) while CpG island methylation of MT1F gene promoter region was only observed in poorly differentiated, MSI-positive RKO and LoVo colon cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: MT1F is a putative tumor suppressor gene in colon carcinogenesis that is downregulated mainly by LOH in colon cancer tissue. Further studies are required to elucidate a possible role for MT1F downregulation in colon cancer initiation and/or progression.

Synthesis, crystal structures, and biological evaluation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of 2-benzoylpyridine Schiff bases derived from S-methyl- and S-phenyldithiocarbazates.

Two NNS tridentate Schiff base ligands of 2-benzoylpyridine S-methyldithiocarbazate (HL(1)) and 2-benzoylpyridine S-phenyldithiocarbazate (HL(2)) and their transition metal complexes [Cu(2)(L(1))(2)(CH(3)COO)](ClO(4)) (1), [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)(ClO(4))(2)] (2), [Zn(L(2))(2)](3) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In the solid state, each of two Schiff bases remains in its thione tautomeric form with the thione sulfur atom trans to the azomethine nitrogen atom. Under similar prepared conditions, three new complexes showed distinctly different coordination modes depending on their coordinating preferences. Each copper atom in S-bridged dinuclear complex [Cu(2)(L(1))(2)(CH(3)COO)](ClO(4)) (1) is surrounded by five donor atoms in a square-pyramidal fashion (4+1). [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)(ClO(4))(2)] (2) is a dimer in which each zinc atom adopts a seven-coordinate distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry, while mononuclear [Zn(L(2))(2)] (3) has octahedral coordination geometry. Biological studies, carried out in vitro against selected bacteria, fungi, and K562 leukaemia cell line, respectively, have shown that different substituted groups attached at the dithiocarbazate moieties and metals showed distinctive differences in the biological property. Zinc(II) complexes 2 and 3 could distinguish K562 leukaemia cell line from normal hepatocyte QSG7701 cell line. Effect of the title compounds on Mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) and PI-associated fluorescence intensity in K562 leukaemia cell line are also studied. The title compounds may exert their cytotoxicity activity via induced loss of MMP.

Synthesis, crystal structures, and biological evaluation of manganese(II) and nickel(II) complexes of 4-cyclohexyl-1-(1-(pyrazin-2-yl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide.

4-Cyclohexyl-1-(1-(pyrazin-2-yl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (HL) and its transition metal complexes formulated as [Mn(L)(2)] (1) and [Ni(L)(2)] (2) have been prepared in 55-75% yield and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Biological activities of the synthesized compounds have been evaluated against selected Gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the K562 leukemia cell line, respectively. The cytotoxicity data suggest that these compounds may be endowed with important biological properties, especially the nickel complex 2 with MIC = 31.2 µg/mL and IC(50) = 0.53 µM, respectively. Effect of the free ligand and its two complexes on Mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) and PI-associated fluorescence intensity as well as their effect on cell apoptosis in K562 leukemia cell line was also studied. The tested compounds may exert their cytotoxicity activity via induced loss of MMP.