Antimicrobial Studies of Mixed Ligand Transition Metal Complexes of Cu(II) and Cd(II) with Maleic Acid and Heterocyclic Bases

Abstract

Mixed ligand transition metal complexes of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions were synthesized, where maleic acid as primary ligand and heterocyclic amine bases as a secondary ligands have been used, respectively. The prepared complexes, [Cu(MA)(1,10-Phen)], [Cu(MA)(Py)2] and [Cd(MA)(IQ)2] were characterized by their conventional physical and chemical analyses. The complexes were tested for their antimicrobial activity against ten bacterial strains Streptococcus-β-haemolyticus (Gram positive), Vacillus megterium (Gram positive), Bacillus suvtilis (Gram positive), Sarcina lutea (Gram positive), Salmonella typhi (Gram negative), Shigella boydii (Gram negative), Shigella shiga (Gram negative), Klebsiella Sp. (Gram negative), Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Shigella sonnei (Gram negative). The antifungal activities were evaluated against five fungi Fusarium Sp., Penicillium Sp., Trichoderma Sp., Aspergillus Sp. and Aspergillus nidulans. Disc diffusion methods were employed, with Kanamycin as the standard antibiotic, for antimicrobial assays. The complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline and Isoquinoline as secondary ligands were much more microbial active than other complexes. The complex [Cu(MA)(1,10-Phen)] showed the highest fungicidal activity against all fungi tested. In addition, [Cd(MA)(IQ)2] showed satisfactory activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. (MA=Maleic acid, py=pyridine, 1,10-Phen=1,10-Phenanthroline and IQ=Isoqunoline).