Synthesis and antibacterial activity of metal complexes of barbituric acid

Abstract

Cobalt (II), copper (II), iron (III), manganese (II) and nickel (II) complexes of barbituric acid were synthesized and characterized by infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The ligand and the complexes have been screened for in vitro antibacterial activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus authracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis). Cobalt (II) complex displayed a better antibacterial activity than the ligand, showing a broad-spectrum activity against all six Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacterial strains, while the other complexes showed only selective activity against the organisms in a manner similar to the starting ligand.