DNA interaction, in vitro antimicrobial and SOD-like activity of copper(II) complexes with norfloxacin and terpyridines

The novel octahedral copper(II) complexes with the second generation fluoroquinolone, norfloxacin and terpyridine derivatives were prepared and characterized. The antimicrobial efficiency of the complexes were tested on five different microorganisms and showed good biological activity. Viscosity measurement and absorption titration were employed to determine the mode of binding of complexes with DNA whereas the cleavage efficacy of the complexes towards pUC19 DNA was determined by electrophoresis in presence of ethidium bromide. SOD mimic behaviour was actively sought for clinical and mechanistic purposes under a nonenzymatic system (NBT/NADH/PMS), and was found to have good antioxidant activity.