Abstract Background Acrylamide derivatives have a potential biological activity as well as acting as precursors in many organic syntheses. Moreover, acrylamides and their derivatives cause convulsions and diffused damage to different sections of the nervous system of infected animals. Novel copper and zinc chelates originated from (E)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-cyanoacrylamide (L 1 ), and (E)-2-cyano-3-(4-nitrophenyl)acrylamide (L 2 ) were prepared, and their chemical skeletons were identified by infrared and mass spectra. The obtained compounds were screened in vitro against the brown garden snail, Eobania vermiculata using the contact method along 72 h. Stock solutions of tested compounds were prepared utilizing distilled water and DMSO mixture, and four concentrations of each compound were prepared (50, 150, 250 and 350 ppm). Eobania vermiculata snails were treated with LC50 concentrations of prepared compounds for 3 days, and live snails were used to estimate the level of some liver and mucous secretion enzymatic biomarkers: transaminases enzymes (Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)), Total Protein content (TP), Acid Phosphatases (ACP) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). Results The results demonstrated that the examined compounds have a relatively toxic effect toward the screened species. Zinc complexes displayed a higher toxicity than copper ones. The results authenticated considerable high effects of the synthesized compounds on investigated enzymes. Conclusions The promising effects of Cu(II), Zn(II) complexes (1, 2) on stimulating the mucous secretion of tested snails are clear through the elevated levels of ALP and ACP enzymes of treated snails. The enhancement or reduction of AST, ALT level and TP content of treated snails demonstrated the effects of prepared compounds on liver functions of these species.
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