Summary.

Aroylhydrazones derived from pyridoxal and salicylaldehyde are compounds with interesting biological properties including a high anticancer activity. Salicylaldehyde benzoylhydrazone (SBH) is an unusually potent inhibitor of DNA synthesis and cell growth in a variety of cultured human and rodent cells. The current study reports synthesis, physicochemical characterization and pharmacological investigations of a new derivative – 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde isonicotinoylhydrazone (mSIH). The hydrazone was prepared by the Schiff base condensation between isonicotinoyl hydrazide and 3-methoxy-salicylaldehyde in ethanol. The structure of the compound was confirmed by elemental and thermo-gravimetric analyses, IR, 1HNMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of the new compound was examined on some human tumor cell lines using the MTT-dye reduction assay. The obtained IC50 values revealed that 3-methoxy-salicylaldehyde isonicotinoylhydrazone proved to be equipotent or more active than cisplatin, and far more active than another utilized anticancer drug melphalan.