Metal–azasterol complexes: Synthesis, characterization, interaction studies with DNA and TrxR and Biological Evaluation

A new azasterol 22-hydrazine-imidazolin-2-yl-chol-5-ene-3 beta- ol (AH3) and their derivatives [Au(AH3)Cl] (1) and [Cu(AH3)(2)(H2O)(2)](NO3)(2) (2) were synthesized and characterized by a combination of elementa(l) analyses, H-1 and C-13-NMR, UV-vis and infrared spectroscopies. The interactions with two targets DNA and TrxR were investigated. The results from these studies suggested that these metal-azasterol complexes interact with DNA most probably by covalent binding. Complex 1 showed also the ability to strongly inhibit TrxR. Additionally, their activities against yeast cells of Sporothrix spp. were evaluated; finding that complex 1 was the most active, even better than itraconazole.