Synthesis and Systematic Investigation of Lepidiline A and Its Gold(I), Silver(I), and Copper(I) Complexes Using In Vitro Cancer Models and Multipotent Stem Cells.

The imidazole alkaloid lepidiline A from the root of has a moderate to low in vitro anticancer effect. Our aim was to extend cytotoxicity investigations against a panel of cancer cells, including multidrug-resistant cancer cells, and multipotent stem cells. Lepidiline A is a N-heterocyclic carbene precursor, therefore a suitable ligand source for metal complexes.