Synthesis, structural characterizations and in vitro cytotoxic activities of new sulfonamide-based Schiff base derivatives

Synthesis of five different new compounds (1-5) were carried out. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform infrared, Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and Elemental analysis. Cytotoxic activities of five new sulfonamide based-Schiff base compounds were determined by MTT assay using A-2780 (human ovarian cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines. LogIC50 values of the sulfonamide derivates compounds were calculated by Graphpad Prism 12 programme after a 24-hour treatment for A2780 and MCF-7 cells. Comet assay experiments were performed to determine DNA damage using LogIC50 concentrations of all compounds in A2780 and MCF-7 cells. All compounds significantly reduced A2780 and MCF-7 cell viability compared to control groups (p < 0.05). In addition, all compounds caused DNA damage in A2780 and MCF-7 cells (p < 0.05). These results show that the synthesized compounds exhibit cytotoxic effects against cancer cells and that the cause of cell death is due to DNA damage. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.