Apoptotic effects of some carbazole derivatives on lung carcinoma and glioma cell lines

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to study the apoptotic effects of 2-[(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)amino]-2-oxoethyl N,N-disubstituted dithiocarbamates on A549 lung carcinoma and C6 glioma cell lines. Cytotoxicity analyses of DNA synthesis and detection of apoptosis by flow cytometry were evaluated to determine the anticancer activity of the compounds on both cell lines. Compounds 2, 5, and 7 which exhibited significant cytotoxic activity in MTT assay were chosen for flow cytometric analyses to determine the apoptotic percent of cells. These compounds also exhibited better DNA synthesis inhibition activity on cancer cells. Finally, acetylcholinesterase inhibition potentials of the compounds were measured. Compound 7 carrying 4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)piperazin-1-yl moiety was the most active apoptotic agent against A549 and C6 cells. Apoptotic effect of this compound can be attributed to its AchE inhibition activity. Compounds 2 and 5 also showed apoptotic effects on C6 glioma cell lines. Compounds 2, 5, and 7 can be identified as the most promising anticancer agents against A549 and C6 cancer cell lines.