A series of eight gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [Au(IMes)(Ln)] based on 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (IMes) and 7-azaindole derivatives (HLn), where n = 1-8 for HL1 = 5-fluoro-7-azaindole, HL2 = 5-bromo-7-azaindole, HL3 = 3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL4 = 3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL5 = 5-bromo-3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL6 = 5-bromo-3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL7 = 4-chloro-2-methyl-7-azaindole and HL8 = 7-azaindole, was prepared, characterised and studied for their in vitro anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. The complexes showed significant cytotoxicity on human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, IC