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The aim of this research is to evaluate for the first time the in vitro leishmanicidal activity and inhibition of a-glucosidase and b-glucuronidase of new gold(I) and gold(III) complexes involving N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, with the general formula [Au(X) n (NHC)R 2 ][BF 4 ] (X=Cl, OAc, R = various aromatic and aliphatic substituents). The Au(III) complexes were shown to have a significant antileishmanial activity, and were also found to be more potent inhibitors of a-glucosidase and b-glucuronidase enzymes than the standard drugs. Some complexes were also identified as potent anti-inflammatory agents with activity comparable to that of tested standard drugs, allopurinol and ibuprofen. These gold complexes were also evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against HeLa (cervical cancer), MCF-3 (breast cancer), and 3T3 (mouse fibroblast) cell lines.Recent advancements in transition-metal-based compounds have found wide medical applications. The use of cisplatin to treat ovarian cancer and the discovery of the gold-based drug auranofin to treat rheumatoid arthritis are among the numerous examples that have seen transition metal complexes combat human ailments. Nowadays, large libraries of platinum-, palladium-, ruthenium-and gold-containing molecules are being synthesized for therapeutic purposes. [1][2][3]