Oxindoles and copper complexes with oxindole-derivatives as potential pharmacological agents

Oxindoles are endogenous compounds found in mammalian body fluids and tissues. Particularly, isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) and its derivatives have shown a variety of biological effects, including inhibition of monoamine oxidase, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiproliferative activities. Recent reports have described these compounds as efficient inhibitors of kinases, a class of proteins involved in many steps of the cellular cycle. Here, some copper(II) complexes with oxindole-derived ligands are discussed as potential antitumoral agents, in comparison to other complexes, based on the proposal of a synergistic effect on adding the metal coordinating and redox properties to the already demonstrated capability of these ligands to influence the angiogenesis and apoptosis processes.