Throughout the last decades flavonoids have been considered as a powerful bioactive molecule. Complexation of these flavonoids with metal ions demonstrated the genesis of unique organometallic complexes which provide improved pharmacological and therapeutic activities. In this research, the fisetin ruthenium-p-cymene complex was synthesized and characterized via different analytical methods like UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The toxicological profile of the complex was evaluated by acute and sub-acute toxicity. Additionally, the mutagenic and genotoxic activity of the complex was assessed by Ames test, chromosomal aberration test, and micronucleus based assay in Swiss albino mice. The acute oral toxicity study exhibited the LD50 of the complex at 500 mg/kg and subsequently, the sub-acute doses were selected. In sub-acute toxicity study, the hematology and serum biochemistry of the 400 mg/kg group showed upregulated white blood cells, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, glucose and cholesterol. However, there was no treatment related alteration of hematological and serum biochemical parameters in the 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg group. In the histopathological analysis, the 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg groups were not associated with any toxicological alterations, whereas the 400 mg/kg group showed prominent toxicological incidences. Nevertheless, the treatment with fisetin ruthenium-p-cymene complex did not exhibit any mutagenic and genotoxic effect in Swiss albino mice. Thus, the safe dose of this novel organometallic complex was determined as 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg without any toxicological and genotoxic potential.

The flavonoid-based organometallic complexes have been identified as novel bioactive compounds with enhanced pharmacological and therapeutic activity. In this study, the ruthenium-p-cymene diosmetin complex was synthesized, characterized, and investigated for toxicological profiling through different toxicological and genotoxicological studies which include acute and sub-acute toxicity, chromosomal aberration, and bone marrow micronucleus study. The acute oral toxicity study demonstrated the LD50 dose of the complex at 500 mg/kg body weight which further instigated the sub-acute doses i.e. 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The histopathological analysis demonstrated that the 400 mg/kg dose was associated with severe toxicological incidences of the vital organs (liver, kidney, pancreas, testis, and stomach) except the ovary with increased levels of ALP, AST, ALT, and WBC count. However, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg doses did not show any toxicological alteration and maintained the normal levels of hematological and serum biochemical parameters. The genotoxicological assessment of the complex depicted no such genetic damage or mutagenicity in any complex treated groups. In conclusion, the 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg doses were determined as therapeutic dose of the novel ruthenium-p-cymene diosmetin complex without any genotoxic and mutagenic potential which can be further implemented in the investigation of various pharmacological and therapeutic interventions.