Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF AZO-SCHIFF BASES DERIVED FROM SALICYLALDEHYDE AND PARA-SUBSTITUTED ANILINE

Victor N. Mkpenie*, Emmanuel E. Essien and Iniobong V. Mkpenie

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of azo- Schiff bases (4-[(E)-(4-methylphenyl)diazenyl]-2-{[(4- nitrophenyl)imino]methyl}phenol (ASBn) and 4-[(E)-(4- methylphenyl)diazenyl]-2-{[(4-methylphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol (ASBm), prepared by the condensation of azo salicylaldehyde and para-substituted aniline. The azo-Schiff bases were characterized by IR spectroscopy and C, H, N analytical data. The antimicrobial activities of synthesized Schiff bases were determined in terms of zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). All the compounds showed moderate to good activities against all the tested microorganisms with MICs 50-500 mg/ml against different microorganisms. The electron withdrawing substituent on the azo Schiff bases showed enhanced antimicrobial activity than electron donating substituent. These Schiff bases may prove to be potential candidates for future antibiotic drugs.

Keywords: Salicylaldehyde, Schiff bases, Azo, antifungal, antibacterial, aniline.