DNA interaction and antimicrobial studies of novel copper (II) complex having ternary Schiff base

A novel ternary Schiff base ligand (HL) of ONO type and its copper (II) complex were synthesised using 2-aminophenol and o-acetoacetotoluidide. They have been characterised by the usual analytical and spectral methods. The interaction of the complex with calf-thymus (CT) DNA has been investigated by UV-Vis, viscosity measurement, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry studies. The results show that the complex binds to CT DNA by intercalating way. The CT DNA cleavage study was monitored by gel electrophoresis method. From this study, it was found that the complex cleaves CT DNA in presence of the oxidant, hydrogen peroxide. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compounds have been tested against the bacteria Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putita and Klebsiella pneumoniae and fungi Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Candida albicans and Rhizoctonia bataicola by well diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value against the growth of the above microorganisms is much larger for copper complex than the ligand.