Abstract

To improve the bioavailability of curcumin numerous approaches were attempted, which included complexation with metal ions. In the present study, a metal ion complex of cobalt(II) with curcumin was synthesized and screened for in vitro antibacterial activity in comparison with curcumin on seven bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus aureus. The cobalt curcumin complex was effective against all strains tested and the activity was greater than that exhibited by curcumin. Comparison of the inhibitory activity with the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin revealed that cobalt curcumin complex was as active as the antibiotic. The cobalt curcumin complex could be a suitable candidate for further in vivo investigations. This is the first report of antibacterial activity of cobalt curcumin complex against all the bacterial strains tested except Escherichia coli.