[Pd{(C,N)-C6H4CH2NH(Et) (Qu)] (2) and [Pd{(C,N)-C6H4CH2NH(Et) (Nar)] (3) (Qu = Quercetin, Nar = Naringin) mononuclear
palladium (II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy. The interaction of the prepared complexes with
calf thymus DNA and
bovine serum albumin (BSA), monitored by UV-visible and fluorescence titrations, respectively, have been carried out to better understand the mode of their action under biological conditions. Intercalative binding mode between the complexes and
DNA is suggested by the binding constant (Kb) values of 2.5 × 106 and 3.2 × 106 for complexes 2 and 3, respectively. In particular, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on two
cancer cells lines (bladder
carcinoma TCC and
breast cancer MCF7) showed that the compounds had broad spectrum, anti-
cancer activity with low IC50 values and the order of in vitro anticancer activities is consistent with the
DNA-binding affinities. In the meantime, the quenching of
tryptophan emission with the addition of complexes using BSA as a model
protein indicated the protein binding ability. The quenching mechanisms of BSA by the complexes were static processes, according to the results obtained. The competitive binding using
Warfarin,
Digoxin and
Ibuprofen site markers, which contain definite biding sites, demonstrated that the complexes bind to site I on BSA. Ultimately, the binding sites of
DNA and BSA with the complexes have been determined by molecular modelling studies.