ANTIFUNGAL EFFECT OF COPPER(II)-PHENANTHROLINE COMPLEX WITH 5-CHLOROSALICYLIC ACID

Abstract

Transition metal complexes represent a novel group of drugs with potential therapeutic applications. A considerable attention has been given to the copper-based complexes with different type of organic ligands that are of crucial importance since they can finely tune the metal toxicity. In view of these findings we synthesised a bifunctional copper (II) – phenantroline complex with 5-Chlorosalicylic acid with the aim to test its potential antifungal activity using yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. The prepared copper complex [Cu(phen)(5-Clsal)(5-ClsalH2)]2 dissolved in DMSO was applied in two following concentrations 30 μM and 60 μM. Parallel with these experiments, two concentrations of free 1,10-phenanthroline in DMSO corresponding to the quantities of the phenanthroline bound in complex were tested as a positive control variant. The results confirmed the toxic effect of copper complex as well as phenanthroline itself on the yeast growth in concentration manner. The effect of copper complex was stronger compared to that of phenanthroline. To assess fungicide or fungistatic effect of the tested substances, the spot assay was performed using the liquid cell culture with the lowest value of OD600 after 24 hours of incubation. Our results showed the differences in cell survival. While the lower concentrations of tested compounds exhibited fungistatic effect on the yeast cell culture, the higher concentrations showed the fungicidaTransition metal complexes represent a novel group of drugs with potential therapeutic applications. A considerable attention has been given to the copper-based complexes with different type of organic ligands that are of crucial importance since they can finely tune the metal toxicity. In view of these findings we synthesised a bifunctional copper (II) – phenantroline complex with 5-Chlorosalicylic acid with the aim to test its potential antifungal activity using yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. The prepared copper complex [Cu(phen)(5-Clsal)(5-ClsalH2)]2 dissolved in DMSO was applied in two following concentrations 30 μM and 60 μM. Parallel with these experiments, two concentrations of free 1,10-phenanthroline in DMSO corresponding to the quantities of the phenanthroline bound in complex were tested as a positive control variant. The results confirmed the toxic effect of copper complex as well as phenanthroline itself on the yeast growth in concentration manner. The effect of copper complex was stronger compared to that of phenanthroline. To assess fungicide or fungistatic effect of the tested substances, the spot assay was performed using the liquid cell culture with the lowest value of OD600 after 24 hours of incubation. Our results showed the differences in cell survival. While the lower concentrations of tested compounds exhibited fungistatic effect on the yeast cell culture, the higher concentrations showed the fungicidal activity.