Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial activity and toxicology study of some metal complexes of mixed antibiotics

Abstract

Mixed ligand metal complexes of ampicillin and chloramphenicol prepared by using Ni(II), Co(II) and Fe(III) metal
chloride hexahydrate were reported and characterized based on some physical properties and spectroscopic
analysis such as AAS, UV, and IR spectroscopy. The complexes were proposed to have the formulae [ML1
L
2
](Cl) n (
where M= Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III); L1 =ampicillin, L2 = chloramphenicol , and n=2- 3). IR spectra suggested that both L1
and L 2 coordinated to the metal ions in a terdentate manner with (O-H), (C=O) and (N-H) as donor sites in each of
the ligands. From analytical and spectroscopic data obtained, the complexes were proposed to be of octahedral.
The synthesized complexes, in compares to their ligands, were also screened for their antibacterial activity against
isolated strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia by using agar diffusion
method. The activity data showed the metal complexes to be more potent antibacterial than the parent drugs against
the three bacteria species. However, toxicology tests against some tissues of albino rat (Rattus novergicuss)
revealed toxicity of the complexes as compared to the parent drugs because the complexes were found to
significantly increase (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase from homogenates of liver and kidney tissues of the tested
doses. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in ALP of rat serum. The results generally indicated
that more potent compounds with better physical properties and enhanced antimicrobial activities upon
complexation have been prepared.