Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of new metal complexes derived from 3-aminocoumarin

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules16086969

3-Aminocoumarin (L) has been synthesized and used as a ligand for the formation of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes. The chemical structures were characterized using different spectroscopic methods. The elemental analyses revealed that the complexes where M=Ni(II) and Cu(II) have the general formulae [ML₂Cl₂], while the Cr(III) complex has the formula [CrL₂Cl₂]Cl. The molar conductance data reveal that all the metal chelates, except the Cr(III) one, are non-electrolytes. From the magnetic and UV-Visible spectra, it is found that these complexes have octahedral structures. The stability for the prepared complexes was studied theoretically using Density Function Theory. The total energy for the complexes was calculated and it was shown that the copper complex is the most stable one. Complexes were tested against selected types of microbial organisms and showed significant activities. The free radical scavenging activity of metal complexes have been determined by measuring their interaction with the stable free radical DPPH and all the compounds have shown encouraging antioxidant activities.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules16086969

Molecules 2011, 16, 6969-6984; doi:10.3390/molecules16086969
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
Article
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of New Metal
Complexes Derived from 3-Aminocoumarin
Abdul Amir H. Kadhum 1, Abu Bakar Mohamad 1, Ahmed A. Al-Amiery 1,2,* and
Mohd S. Takriff 1
1
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
2
Biotechnology Division, Applied Science Department, University of Technology,
Baghdad 10066, Iraq
* Author to whom the correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: dr.ahmed@eng.ukm.my or
dr.ahmed1975@gmail.com.
Received: 20 June 2011; in revised form: 14 July 2011 / Accepted: 15 July 2011 /
Published: 15 August 2011
Abstract: 3-Aminocoumarin (L) has been synthesized and used as a ligand for the
formation of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes. The chemical structures were characterized
using different spectroscopic methods. The elemental analyses revealed that the complexes
where M=Ni(II) and Cu(II) have the general formulae [ML2Cl2], while the Cr(III) complex
has the formula [CrL2Cl2]Cl. The molar conductance data reveal that all the metal chelates,
except the Cr(III) one, are non-electrolytes. From the magnetic and UV-Visible spectra, it
is found that these complexes have octahedral structures. The stability for the prepared
complexes was studied theoretically using Density Function Theory. The total energy for
the complexes was calculated and it was shown that the copper complex is the most stable
one. Complexes were tested against selected types of microbial organisms and showed
significant activities. The free radical scavenging activity of metal complexes have been
determined by measuring their interaction with the stable free radical DPPH and all the
compounds have shown encouraging antioxidant activities.
Keywords: 3-aminocoumarin; antimicrobial; complexes; DPPH; scavenging

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1. Introduction
Drug resistance has become a growing problem in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by
bacteria and fungi [1]. The serious medical problem of bacterial and fungal resistance and the rapid
rate at which it develops has led to increasing levels of resistance to classical antibiotics [2,3], and the
discovery and development of effective antibacterial and antifungal drugs with novel mechanisms of
action have thus become urgent tasks for infectious disease research programs [4]. Coumarins present
a variety of bioactivities, including anticoagulant, estrogenic, dermal photosensitizing, antimicrobial,
vasodilator, molluscicidal, antihelmintic, sedative and hypnotic, analgesic and hypothermic
actions [5-16]. In addition, coumarins have been shown to inhibit N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, aflatoxin
B1 and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats [17,18]. More
recently, coumarin derivatives had been evaluated in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus,
due to their ability to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus [19,20]. Since the late 1980s, a number of
in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the possible use of coumarins in the treatment of
cancer [21]. Coumarin derivatives exhibit not only excellent biological and medical activities [22], but
also have the superior thermal stability and outstanding optical properties, including extended spectral
responses, high quantum yields, and superior photostability. Optical applications of these compounds,
such as laser dyes, nonlinear optical chromophore, fluorescent whiteners, fluorescent probes, polymer
science, optical recording and solar energy collectors, have been widely investigated [23-28]. More
importantly, coumarin dyes are used as blue, green and red dopants in organic light-emitting diodes
(OLEDs) [29,30]. Based on the structure of coumarin where there exists delocalization of π-electrons
(resonance effect), the potential for this molecule to be used as chemical inhibitor can be established [31].
3-Aminocoumarin derivatives have been found to also possess a wide range of biological activities,
including CNS depressant, [32] antibacterial, [33] antiallergic [34] and insect-growth regulatory
effects [35]. Medicinal metal complexes have become an interesting research area since the discovery
of cisplatin [36]. Since then, many complexes have been synthesized and tested on a number of
biological systems. Copper complexes are known to have a broad spectrum of biological action [37].
The preparation of 3-aminocoumarin and its use as a ligand for the formation of Cr(III), Ni(II), and
Cu(II) complexes, is presented in this study. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized
complexes were confirmed. The microbial activities of all synthesized compounds and their in vitro
antioxidant activities were also investigated.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Chemistry
3-Aminocoumarin (Figure 1) is the key intermediate for the metal complexes synthesized in this work.
Figure 1. The structure of 3-aminocoumarin.

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The data for the minimized geometry and the 3d-geometrical structure of 3-aminocoumarin (Figure 2)
show that the atomic charges have been affected by the presence of the ring substituent, as shown in
Table 1.
Figure 2. The 3d structure of 3-aminocoumarin.
Table 1. The atomic charges of 3-aminocoumarin.
Atom
O(1)
C(2)
O(3)
C(4)
C(5)
C(6)
H(19)
Charge
Atom
C(7)
C(8)
C(9)
C(10)
C(11)
N(12)
−
Charge
Atom
H(13)
H(14)
H(15)
H(16)
H(17)
H(18)
−
Charge
−
0.0576918
−0.115268
0.0181674
0.0223331
0.0253347
0.0249427
0.0281505
0.092316
0.546493
−0.0752691
−0.580016
−0.101239
0.144636
−0.110194
−
0.359074
0.00167107
0.0921441
0.197216
0.205349
−
The data obtained show that the highest atomic charge in the 3-aminocoumarin molecule is located
at [O(3)-0.580016], while the next highest charge value are at [C(5)-0.359074] and [C(7)-0.115268].
These data show clearly that oxygen atom [O(3)] is the most reactive toward the bonding with the
metal. The determined bond angle, twist angle, 3D geometrical structure (Figure 2) and
stereochemistry [C(4)-C(5):(E)], indicate that this molecule is planar.
The synthesis of 3-aminocoumarin was performed by vigorously refluxing 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde
with 2-acetamidoacetic acid, using piperidine as the strong base. The end of the reaction involves the
removal of the acetyl group and the production of 3-aminocoumarin in 17% yield (Scheme 1).
Scheme 1. Formation of the ligand.
The mechanism of the reaction may be explained by a carbanion mechanism (Scheme 2).

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Scheme 2. Reaction mechanism of formation of the ligand.
The complexes were synthesized by the reactions of 3-aminocoumarin with the metal ions, in which
the ligand behaves as a bidentate ligand through its oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The analytical data of
these complexes are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Analytical data for the metal complexes.
Elemental analysis
(calculated)
Elemental
M.P. Yield
analysis (found)
No. Compounds M:L
°C
%
C% H% N% M%
C% H% N% M%
C1
C2
C3
[Cr(L)2Cl2]Cl 1:2
189
221d
209d
40
55
67
44.98 2.94 5.83 10.82 45.02 2.42 5.30 10.65
47.84 3.12 6.20 12.99 47.59 3.07 6.09 12.53
47.33 3.09 6.13 13.91 46.98 2.80 5.92 13.99
[Ni(L)2Cl2]
[Cu(L)2Cl2]
1:2
1:2
All the complexes are fairly stable and can be stored for long periods at room temperature. The
solid colored complexes are stable towards heat, air and moisture, and they are generally soluble in
common organic solvents such as dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide. The stability for the
prepared complexes was studied theoretically using Density Function Theory (DFT). The total energy
for the complexes was calculated and it was shown that the copper complex is the most stable and the
chromium complex is the least stable as follows: Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Cr(III). In all our work on metal
complexes (in which we have used different ligands with the ion metals Cu, Ni, and Cr), we found out
that the copper complex is consistently the most stable.
Figure 3. The proposed structure for the complexes.
2.1.1. Elemental Analysis
The compositions of the complexes are summarized in Table 2. The analytical data of the
complexes are consistent with the proposed molecular structures (Figure 3), assuming molar metal to
ligand ratios of 1:2. The C, H, N and M contents (both theoretically calculated values and actual
values) are in accordance with the formula ML2Cl2 indicating that the 3-aminocoumarin complexes are

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neutral, except for the Cr(III) complex with formula [ML2Cl2]Cl (Table 2). This can be explained by
the absence of any deprotonating agent during the synthesis.
2.1.2. Infrared Spectra
A study and comparison of the infrared spectra of 3-aminocoumarin and its complexes imply that
3-aminocoumarin is bidentate, with the carbonyl oxygen and amine nitrogen as the two coordination
sites. In the infrared spectra of the complexes a considerable negative shift of the C=O group is
observed, indicating a decrease in the stretching force-constant of the C=O bond as a consequence of
coordination through the carbonyl oxygen atom. The carbonyl band for the parent 3-aminocoumarin
ligand was located at 1709 cm−1, but for the Cr(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes these peaks were
shifted to lower frequencies, namely 1691 cm−1, 1701 cm−1, and 1685 cm−1, respectively. The NH2
bands of 3-aminocoumarin were at 3407 and 3299 cm−1, but for the complexes the NH2 bands also
shift to lower frequencies [Cr-complex ones were at 3315 and 3201 cm−1, Ni-complex at 3310 and
3181 cm−1 and finally the Cu-complex ones were at 3326 and 3217 cm−1, respectively] [38].
Additional evidence for the coupling between the ligand and metals ion were the M-N and M-O bands
occurring at 455-467 cm-1and 486-503 cm−1, respectively (Table 3).
Table 3. FT-IR (cm−1) bands of metal complexes.
NO.
C1
N–H
C=O
1691
1701
1685
M–Cl
343
νM–N
467
νM–O
503
3315, 3201
3310, 3181
3326, 3217
C2
330
455
501
C3
330
459
486
2.1.3. 1H-NMR Spectra
1
The H-NMR spectrum of the ligand (L) showed characteristic signals due to the N-H protons at
7.97 ppm. Moreover the peaks observed between 7.40 ppm and 7.61 ppm were assigned to the
C–Haromatic protons of the ligand. The signal at 6.11 ppm may be assigned to the =C–Hvinyl proton.
2.1.4. Molar Conductance
The molar conductance values of all the complexes determined in nitrobenzene at room temperature
are given in Table 4. The value for the Cr(III) complex indicates that one chloride ion is present
outside the coordination sphere. The molar conductance values Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are quite
low to correspond to an ionic complex; hence, these complexes are considered to be neutral and the
chloride ions are assumed to be situated within the coordination sphere.
Table 4. Physical data of the synthesized compounds.
Magnetic moment
ohm 1
cm2 mol−
90
max cm−
Structure
1
No.
λ
1
µ (B.M.)
4.1
C1 15217, 20112, 32125
C2 15890, 31915
C3 12117, 15812, 22076
Octahedral
Octahedral
Octahedral
2.6
20
1.6
22

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2.1.5. Magnetic Moment and UV-Vis Spectra
The ultraviolet spectrum of the synthesized 3-aminocoumarin showed two absorption bands. The
position of the first band, which represents the (π → π*) transition, was at 239 nm, while the second
band (which has higher intensity than the first one due to the conjugated system) appeared at 289 nm
and represents the (n → π*) transition. Generally, the bands of the newly synthesized complexes are
either shifted to shorter or longer wavelengths than those of 3-aminocoumarin, but the high intensity of
the band is an indication for complex formation.
In these complexes the bands observed over 300 nm could be assigned to nitrogen-metal charge transfer
absorption. The electronic absorption bands for the ligand and complexes are classified into two distinct
groups, first those that belong to ligand transitions appeared in the UV region, while d-d transitions
appeared in the visible region. These transitions are releted to the structures of the complexes (Table 4).
The Cr(III) complex showed three bands with absorbance maxima at 15,217 cm−1, 20,112 cm−1 and
4
4
4
4
4
4
32,125 cm−1 which were assigned to the A2g(F) → T2g(F), A2g(F) → T1g(F), A2g(F) → T1g(P)
absorption bands, respectively. These transitions, combined with the measured 4.1 B.M. magnetic
moment, suggest a high-spin octahedral geometry for the Cr(III) complex.
The nickel complex is paramagnetic, with a room temperature magnetic moment of 2.6 B.M., which
is consistent with an octahedral field. The electronic absorption spectrum showed two absorption
3
3
bands at 15,890 cm−1 and 31,915 cm−1 which are considered to correspond to A2g(F) → T1g and
3A2g(F) → 3T1g(P) (Table 4), respectively.
The room temperature magnetic moment of 1.6 B.M. indicates an octahedral structure for the Cu(II)
ion complex. The electronic absorption spectrum of Cu(II) complex shows three bands at 12,117 cm−1,
15,812 cm−1 and 22,076 cm−1, assigned to 2B1g → 2A2g, 2B1g → 2B2g and 2B1g → 2Eg, respectively [38].
2.1.6. Suggested Stereostructures of the Complexes
The proposed structures of complexes based on the above mentioned data (UV-Vis, IR, and NMR
spectra, conductivity, molar ratio and magnetic properties) are depicted in Figure 3. The chlorides in
the metal complexes of Ni(II) and Cu(II), are in the octahedral coordination sphere, but for the Cr(III)
complex, the chlorides are in spherical coordination and the third chloride is in the outer of the
spherical coordination, as implied by the molar conductance.
2.2. Pharmacology
2.2.1. Antibacterial Activity
The antibacterial screening data show that the complexes exhibit antimicrobial properties, and we
note that the metal chelates exhibit more inhibitory effects than the parent 3-aminocoumarin ligand.
The increased activity of the metal chelates can be explained on the basis of chelation theory [39]. It is
known that chelation tends to make the ligand act as powerful and potent bactericidal agents, thus
killing more of the bacteria than the ligand alone. It is observed that, in a complex, the positive charge
of the metal is partially shared with the donor atoms present in the ligands, and there may be π-electron
delocalization over the whole chelating space [40]. This increases the lipophilic character of the metal

Molecules 2011, 16
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chelate and favours its permeation through the lipoid layer of the bacterial membranes. The increased
lipophilic character of these complexes seems to be responsible for their enhanced potent antibacterial
activity. It may be suggested that these complexes deactivate various cellular enzymes, which play a
vital role in various metabolic pathways of these microorganisms. It has also been proposed that the
ultimate action of the toxicant is the denaturation of one or more proteins of the cell, which as a result,
impairs normal cellular processes. There are other factors which also increase the activity, which are
solubility, conductivity, and bond length between the metal and the ligand.
Figure 4. Effect of the Cr-complex toward test organisms.
Figure 5. Effect of Ni-complex toward test organisms.

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Figure 6. Effect of Cu-complex toward test organisms.
As a result from the study of antibacterial of the prepared metal complexes (Figures 4, 5 and 6), the
following conclusions may be stated:
(1). Generally, the result of prepared complexes exhibited antibacterial activity toward E. coli bacteria
was more than the inhibition on other types of bacteria.
(2). The copper complex has more activity toward all the kinds of tested bacteria, compared to other
complexes. The stability of the copper complex and the coupling with the ligand may be the reasons
for this activity against bacteria.
2.2.2. Antifungal Activities
Figure 7. The effect of complexes toward Aspergillus niger.
25
Cr-Complex
Ni-Complex
20
15
10
5

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In vitro antifungal screening effects of the investigated compounds were tested against some fungal
species (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). The Cu(II) complex was found to exhibit antifungal
activity against all the fungi in this study (Figures 7 and 8).
Figure 8. The effect of complexes toward Candida albicans.
30
Cr-Complex
Ni-Complex
Cu
25
20
15
10
5
2.2.3. Radical Scavenging Activity
The 2,2′′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay provides an easy and rapid way to
evaluate the antiradical activities of antioxidants. Determination of the reaction kinetic types DPPHH
is a product of the reaction between DPPH• and an antioxidant:
(AH): DPPH• + AH → DPPHH + A•
The reversibility of the reaction is evaluated by adding DPPHH at the end of the reaction. If there is
an increase in the percentage of remaining DPPH• at the plateau, the reaction is reversible, otherwise it
is a complete reaction.
DPPH was used as stable free radical electron accepts or hydrogen radical to become a stable
diamagnetic molecule [41]. DPPH is a stable free radical containing an odd electron in its structure and
usually used for detection of the radical scavenging activity in chemical analysis. [42]. The reduction
capability of DPPH radicals was determined by decrease in its absorbance at 517 nm induced by
antioxidants. [43]. The graph was plotted with percentage scavenging effects on the y-axis and
concentration (µg/mL.) on the x-axis. The scavenging ability of the metal complexes was compared
with ascorbic acid as a standard. The metal complexes showed good activities as a radical scavenger
compared with ascorbic acid, Figure 9. These results were in agreement with previous metallic
complexes studies where the ligand has the antioxidant activity and it is expected that the metal moiety
will increase its activity [44-46].

Molecules 2011, 16
Figure 9. Scavenging effect of metal complexes, and ascorbic acid at different
6978
concentrations (15, 30, 45, 60, 80 and 100 µg/mL).
90
Ascorbic acid
Cr-Complex
Ni-Complex
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
3. Experimental
3.1. General
All chemicals used in this work were of reagent grade (supplied by either Sigma-Aldrich or Fluka)
and used without farther purifications. The FTIR spectra were recorded in the (4000–200) cm−1 range
on cesium iodide disks using a Shimadzu FTIR 8300 Spectrophotometer. Proton NMR spectra were
recorded on Bruker-DPX 300 MHz spectrometer with TMS as internal standard. The UV-Visible
spectra were measured in ethanol using a Shimadzu UV-Vis. 160A spectrophotometer in the range
(200–1000) nm. Magnetic susceptibility measurement for complexes was obtained at room
temperature using a Magnetic Susceptibility Balance Model MSB-MKI. The flame atomic absorption
of a Shimadzu AA-670 elemental analyzer was used for metal determination. Elemental micro analysis
was carried out using a CHN elemental analyzer model 5500-Carlo Erba instrument. A Gallenkamp
M.F.B.600.010 F melting point apparatus was used to measure the melting points of all the prepared
compounds.
3.2. Chemistry
3.2.1. Synthesis of the Ligand
A mixture of 2-acetamidoacetic acid (58.5 g, 0.5 mol) and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (92.7 g,
0.76 mol) in acetic anhydride (0.5 mL, 0.053 mol) with few drops of piperidine was refluxed at 130 °C
for 8 hours. After cooling to room temperature the product is separated out and washed with diethyl
ether several times, dried and then recrystallized from ethanol to give N-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-
yl)acetamide in 85% yield. The latter (5 g, 0.02 mol) was refluxed in ethanol (25 mL), containing conc.

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hydrochloric acid (2 mL) for 4 hours. The crystallized compound (impure 3-aminocoumarin) mixture
was cooled, poured on to ice before neutralization with sodium bicarbonate. The solid was separated out,
filtered and left to dry. 3-Aminocoumarin was recrystallized from ethanol, giving a pale yellow powder,
o
1
yield 17%, m.p. 129 °C (lit. [47] 130 C); H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.97 (s, NH2), δ 6.11 (s, 1H) for
–C=C-H), δ 7.40-7.61 (m, 1H) for aromatic ring); IR: 3407 and 3299 cm−1 (NH2, amine), 1709 cm−1
(C=O, lactone); Anal. Calcd. for C9H7NO2: C 67.07%, H 4.38%, N 8.69%. Found: C 66.98%, H
4.27%, N 8.58%.
3.2.2. Synthesis of the Complexes
Metal salts (CrCl3·6H2O, NiCl2·6H2O and CuCl2·2H2O; 5 mmol) in hot ethanol (20 mL) were mixed
with hot ethanolic solution of the 3-aminocoumarin (1.61 g, 10 mmol) and refluxed for 4 hours. On
cooling the contents, the colored complexes were separated out. The products were filtered [48],
washed with cold 50% ethanol and dried in vacuum over P4O10. Purity of the complexes was checked
by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The TLC plates (20 × 10 cm) were recoated silica gel on
aluminum 60F – 254, with a stationary phase thickness of about 0.5 mm. Five µL each of test solution
was applied on each plate. The TLC plate was placed in a saturated chromatographic tank containing
an ethyl acetate-methanol-acetone (25:25:50) solvent system, Rf values for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Cr(III)
were 0.31, 3.0 and 4.3, respectively.
3.2.3. Study of Complex Formation in Solution
The complexes of the 3-aminocoumarin with metal ions were studied in dimethylformamide
(DMF), in order to determine the M:L ratio in the complex following the molar ratio method. Several
series of solutions were prepared having constant concentration (10−3 M) of the metal ion and (L). The
M:L ratios were determined from the relationship between the absorption of light [49] and the M:L
mole ratio. The results of complexes formation in solution were listed in Table 2.
3.3. Pharmacology
3.3.1. Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities
The in vitro antibacterial effects of the complexes were evaluated against a sp. of Gram-positive
bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and four Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus vulgaris) by the disc diffusion method [50] using
nutrient agar medium. The bacteria were sub-cultured in the agar medium and were incubated for 24 h.
at 37 °C. The discs having a diameter of 5 mm, then soaked in the test solutions (Sterile filter paper
discs, Whatman No. 1.0) with the appropriate equivalent amount of the metal complexes dissolved in
sterile dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) at concentrations of 1–10 mg/disc) and were placed in Petri
dishes on an appropriate medium previously seeded with organisms and stored in an incubator for the
above mentioned period of time. The inhibition zone around each disc was measured and the results
recorded in the form of inhibition zones (diameter, mm). To clarify any effect of DMSO on the
biological screening, separate studies were carried out using DMSO as control and it showed no
activity against any bacterial strains.

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3.3.2. Evaluation of Antifungal Assay
Antifungal activity [51,52], based on the determined growth inhibition rates of the mycelia of strain
(Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) in Potato Dextrose Broth medium (PDB). Under aseptic
conditions, one mL of spore suspension (5 × 106 cfu/mL) of tested fungi was added to 50 mL PDB
medium in a 100 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Appropriate volumes of tested metal complexes were added to
produce concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 µg mL−1. Flasks were incubated at 27 1 °C in the
dark for 5 days and then the mycelium was collected on filter papers. The filter papers were dried to
constant weight and the level of inhibition, relative to the control flasks was calculated from the
following formula:
C − T
Percentageof inhibition =
×100
C
where T = weight of mycelium from test flasks and C = weight of mycelium from control flasks.
3.3.3. Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity
Stock solution (1 mg/mL) was diluted to final concentrations of 20–100
solution (1 mL, 0.3 mmol) was added to sample solutions in DMSO (3 mL) at different concentrations
(50 300 g/mL) [53]. The mixture was shaken vigorously and allowed to stand at room temperature
µg/mL. Ethanolic DPPH
–
µ
for 30 min. The absorbance was then measured at 517 nm in a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. The lower
absorbance of the reaction mixture indicates higher free radical scavenging activity. Ethanol was used
as the solvent and ascorbic acid as the standard. The DPPH radical scavenger was calculated using the
following equation:
A0 −A
Scavenging effect
(%
)
=
1 ×100
A0
where Ao is the absorbance of the control reaction and A1 is the absorbance in the presence of the
samples or standards. A0-A1
4. Conclusions
In this study, Cr(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of 3-aminocoumarin have been successfully
synthesized and characterized by using various spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis, magnetic
moment and molar conductance studies. The synthesized complexes were tested for antioxidant and
antimicrobial activities. Out of these complexes, Cu(II) indicated significant antimicrobial activities as
compared to either Cr(III) or Ni(II). In addition the Cu(II) complex is also found to be a superior
antioxidant complex as compared to ascorbic acid.
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