Comprehensive design and synthesis of methyl-substituted benzimidazole-based mononuclear copper( ii ) complexes and evaluation of DNA cleavage and ROS-induced apoptosis

values in the low micromolar concentration range. Although DNA cleavage followed the order 4 > 2 > 3 > 1, the highest cytotoxicity, ROS generation and apoptosis were exhibited by 3 (3 > 2 > 4 > 1), suggesting that ROS-mediated pathways could play a dominant role in determining the anticancer activity of Cu(II) complexes.