Multitargeting Antibacterial Activity of a Synthesized Mn<sup>2+</sup> Complex of Curcumin on Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Strains
Tanmoy Saha, Prince Kumar, Nayim Sepay, Durba Ganguly, Kanchan Tiwari, Kasturi Mukhopadhyay, Saurabh Das
Abstract
) bacteria. It showed a strong affinity for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evident from a high binding constant value with calf thymus DNA and also from the retarded electrophoretic mobility of bacterial plasmid DNA. The complex showed "superoxide dismutase-like" activity leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The complex caused bacterial membrane perturbation evident from calcein leakage assay, which was further corroborated by scanning and transmission electron microscopic experiments. Overall, the present study shows improved stability and antibacterial potency of a nontoxic complex over curcumin. Its multitargeting mode of action such as ROS-production, effective binding with DNA, and permeabilization of bacterial membrane together allows it to be an effective antibacterial agent that could be taken further for therapeutic use against bacterial infections.