Bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity of iron(III) complexes with Schiff – based ligands on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans cultures

Abstract

In order to identify compounds with antimicrobial properties, three coordination compounds of iron(III): [Fe(H2L 1 )(H2O)2](NO3)3∙1.5H2O; [Fe(H2L 2 )(H2O)2](NO3)3∙5H2O and [Fe(H2L 3 )(H2O)2](NO3)3∙2.5H2O (where H2L 1 =2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(isonicotinoylhidrazone), H2L 2 =2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(nicotinoylhidrazone) and H2L 3 =2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(picolinoylhidrazone)) were tested for bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties against bacteria E. coli and S. aureus, as well as yeast-like fungi C. albicans. The antimicrobial effect was determined by counting the colony forming units (CFU) resistant to the action of analysed compounds. The tested compounds showed a pronounced activity on E. coli from the first minutes of contact, showing a decrease to zero of the CFU number.