Background: The liver organotropic properties of the new bioinorganic complex of platinum (II) and glycocholic acid, Bamet-H2 have been reported previously. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vitro cytostatic activity of this compound.
Materials and methods: The inhibition of cell growth and DNA synthesis by mouse leukemia L-1210 (mL), mouse hepatoma Hepa 1-6 (mH), rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 (rH) and human colon adenocarcinoma LS-174T (hCC) cells were measured. The effects on the electrophoretic mobility of the pUC18 plasmid, the DNA denaturation temperature and ethidium bromide (EthBr) binding to DNA were studied.
Results: A significant antiproliferative effect for Bamet-H2 was found (mH approximately hCC > mL approximately rH). DNA synthesis was also markedly inhibited (mH approximately hCC approximately mL approximately rH). Bamet-H2-induced a change in the electrophoretic mobility of pUC18 and the increase in DNA denaturation temperature suggested the existence of DNA-Bamet-H2 interactions. Scatchard plots obtained from EthBr displacement assays revealed that Bamet-H2 induces a reduction in both the number of DNA sites available and their ability to bind EthBr.
Conclusion: Bamet H2 is able to interact with DNA, inhibit DNA synthesis, and hence reduce cell proliferation.