Figure 11

Proposed mechanism of action for the anticancer activity of C1 and/or C3 against A375 human melanoma cancer cells. The oxidative stress caused by these complexes results in the high-value production of ROS. The ROS overproduction induces the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway due to changes in the mitochondrial potential. The mitochondrial damage results in cytochrome C release in the cytosol and subsequently level of procaspases 9 and 3 increases. Moreover, apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway can be induced by the tumor suppressor p53 that activates Bax in response to DNA damage.