The synthesis and systematic investigation of inorganic and organic compounds are fundamental to medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, particularly for developing novel therapeutic agents. Transition-metal complexes and bioactive organic compounds have shown significant potential to modulate cellular pathways, yielding anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis, structural characterization, and therapeutic evaluation of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and ruthenium (Ru) complexes, as well as selected organic compounds, with an emphasis on their biological activities and potential clinical relevance. The integration of synthetic chemistry with biological evaluation underscores the therapeutic potential of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and ruthenium (Ru) complexes, as well as organic compounds. Au(I/III), Pt(II/IV), and Ru(II/III) complexes demonstrated notable in vivo anticancer activity, while selected organic derivatives exhibited promising bioactive properties. This review aims to support researchers and clinicians in the ongoing development of novel compounds with clinical relevance for anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory applications.
Marinova et al. (2026) studied this question.