Aminoguanidine Hydrazone Derivatives: The Antioxidant, Antineoplastic Profile, and Interaction with ctDNA Studies

Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of four aminoguanidine hydrazone derivatives with different aromatic moieties. This class of compounds presents a series of biological applications. Derivative AGH-3 with an indole nucleus offered the highest antioxidant capacity with results comparable to Trolox in 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH• ), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+), FeIII reduction assay (FRAP), and nitric oxide (•NO) radical scavenging assays. Furthermore, AGH-3 showed the highest antiproliferative activity against human kidney cancer cells (786-0) with concentration necessary to inhibit 50% cell growth (GI50) = 6.3 µM; additionally, in biophysical studies, AGH-3 interacted with ctDNA (biological target model) forming a fluorescent supramolecular complex with a binding constant (Kb) of 2.89 × 103 M-1 with preferentially an intercalator mechanism. The tested compounds revealed the potential of aminoguanidine hydrazones as a strategic class of compounds with multitarget biological activity.