An-Najah Staff

Metal-carboxylic ionophore complexes, where Metal = Ag, Tl, Li, Na, K, Rb, Mg, Mn, Cs, Sr, Ba, Cu and Ionophore = monensin (MON-H), have been synthesized. The molecular structures of three complexes have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The metal chelates were tested against human tuberculosis line for potential anti-tubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB). The metal chelates overall showed enhanced activity and amongst the ionophore. This increased activity could possibly be due to the increased hydrophobic character that the alkyl and alkyloxy groups confer on the molecule after coordination to metals. Moreover, hydrophobic molecules with rigid and globular structure have been shown to have the ability to induce localized permeability across the membrane.