Antimicrobial Agents Based on Metal Complexes: Present Situation and Future Prospects

Table 1

Antimicrobial activity of some metals and their complexes along with their mode of action.

S. No.	Element	Complexes	Antimicrobial activity	Mode of action	References
s-block elements
1	Lithium (Li)	LiC6H7O6	Lithium complexes are a good source of antioxidant	Increases the GABA level which in turn reduces glutamate and downregulates the NMDA receptors	[87]
2		C4H6LiNO4	Lithium complexes are a good source of antioxidant	Increases the GABA level which in turn reduces glutamate and downregulates the NMDA receptors	[87]
3		Li2CO3	Lithium complexes are a good source of antioxidant	Increases the GABA level which in turn reduces glutamate and downregulates the NMDA receptors	[87]
4	Calcium (Ca)	Ca (Cur)2	P. verruculosum, A. niger, A. heteromorphus, A. flavus, and B. cereus	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
p-block elements
5	Gallium (Ga)	[GaCl2 (4- MepzH)4] GaCl4	Effective against HIV	Fe metabolism	[84]
6	Tin (Sn)	Sn (Cur)2	Have antifungal potential against P. verruculosum, A. niger, A. heteromorphus, A. flavus, and B. cereus	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
7	Lead (Pb)	Pb (Cur)2	Have antifungal potential against P. verruculosum, A. niger, A. heteromorphus, A. flavus, and B. cereus	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
d-block elements
8	Cromium (Cr)	Cr (Curc)3	Shows antibacterial activity against E. coli, K. pneumonia, and Pseudomonas sp.	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
9		npapCr	Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus and antifungal activity against A. flavus, C. albicans, and T. rubrum. Also have antiviral potential against TMV and HSV.	Cytotoxicity	[89]
10	Manganese (Mn)	[MnL] Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhances the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[90]
11	Iron (Fe)	FeCur (OH)2	E. coli is the bacterial against which iron complex act	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
12		C18H19ClN3.C5H5.Fe	Antibacterial against plasmodium falciparum	Active against chloroquine-resistant parasitic strains by producing ROS β-lactamase	[89]
13		npapFe	Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus and antifungal activity against A. flavus, C. albicans, and T. rubrum and also have antiviral potential against TMV and HSV.	Cytotoxicity	[89]
14		[Fe (sulfamethoxazole)2 Cl2].2H2O	Antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, and E. coli	Cytotoxicity	[43]
15	Cobalt (Co)	[CoCurCl] Cl	Penicillium digitatum fungi and bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, and A. flavus against which antimicrobial activity is reported	Chain breakage	[88]
16		CoCurCl	S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. typhi, and E. coli are the bacteria against which cobalt complexes act.	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATP-ase activity	[88]
17		[CoL] Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola are reported	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhancing the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[89]
18		Co (sulfamethoxazole)2.3H2O	Possess antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Cytotoxicity	[43]
19		npapCo	Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus and antifungal activity against A. flavus, C. albicans, and T. rubrum and also have antiviral potential against TMV and HSV.	Cytotoxicity	[89]
20	Nickel (Ni)	[NiCurCl] Cl	Penicillium digitatum, fungi, and bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, and A. flavus against which antimicrobial activity is reported	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
21		NiCurCl	S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli are the bacteria affected by nickel complexes		[88]
22		npapNi	Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus and antifungal activity against A. flavus, C. albicans, and T. rubrum and also have antiviral potential against TMV and HSV.	Cytotoxicity	[89]
23		Ni (sulfamethoxazole)2 Cl].2H2O	Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, B. subtilis, E. coli, and S. aureus	Cytotoxicity	[43]
24		[NiL] Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and B. subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhances the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[89]
25	Copper (Cu)	[CuCl (H2itsc) (Ph3P)2] 2CH3CN	Possess antiviral activity and antitumor activity	Cell death	[91]
26		C32H16CuN8	S. enterica and P. aeruginosa bacteria for which antimicrobial activity was reported	DNA intercalation	[92]
27		[Cu (sulfisoxazole)2 (H2O)4] ·2H2O	E. coli and S. aureus bacteria for which antimicrobial activity was reported	Inhibiting folic acid synthesis	[88]
28		[CuCurCl] Cl	Penicillium digitatum, fungi, and bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus and A. flavus against which antimicrobial activity is reported	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
29		Cu (Cur)2	S. aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas fluorescence	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
30		CuCurCl	S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli are effected by copper complexes	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
31		C32H16CuN8	Antibacterial activity shown against S. enteric and P. aeruginosa	DNA intercalation	[92]
32		[CuL] Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhancing the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[93]
33		Cu (sulfisoxazole)2 H2O	Antibacterial against S. aureus and E. coli	Cytotoxicity	[43]
34		Cu (sulfisoxazole)2 (H2O)2.3H2O	Antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli	Cytotoxicity	[43]
35	Zinc (Zn)	[ZnCurCl] Cl	Penicillium digitatum, fungi, and bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, and A. flavus against antimicrobial activity	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
36		[ZnL] Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataicola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhancing the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[94]
37	Ruthenium (Ru)	[Ru (Me4phen)3]^2	Active against Gram-positive bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Lipophilicity, charge, and charge separation conducted by Ru	[72]
38		[Ru (Me4phen)2 (acac)]^+	Active against Gram-positive bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Lipophilicity, charge, and charge separation conducted by Ru	[72]
39		[Ru (2,9-Me2phen)2 (dppz)]^2+	Active against S. aureus	Lipophilicity, charge, and charge separation conducted by Ru	[72]
40		[Ru (dmob)3]^2+	Active against S. aureus	Lipophilicity, charge, and charge separation conducted by Ru	[72]
41		([ru (X-phen)2 (acac)]+^1	Antibacterial activity against Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus aureus	Growth inhibition by disturbing biological processes	[35]
42	Palladium (Pd)	Pd (Curc)2	E. coli and K. pneumonia are the bacteria against which palladium act	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
43	Silver (Ag)	[HB (3,5- (CF3) 2pz)3] Ag (OSMe2)]	Have ability against Staphylococcus aureus	Cytotoxicity	[88]
44		Ag (I) carbene	Antibiotic for E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa	Eat up bacteria	[92]
45		Ag (I)–saccharin complex	Antimicrobial activity against Gram + ve bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and, Proteus vulgaris, and P. aeruginosa)	Eat up bacteria	[95]
46		Ag (I)-cyclamate	Antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium malmoense, and Mycobacterium kansasii.	Eat up bacteria	[96]
47		Ag (I)-aspartame	Antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium malmoense, and Mycobacterium kansasii.	Eat up bacteria	[96]
48		[HB (3,5-(CF3) 2pz) 3] Ag (thf)]	Have ability against Staphylococcus aureus	Cytotoxicity	[24, 97]
49		AgNO3	Effective against Ophthalmia neonatorum	Binding of free silver ions with tissue proteins, which leads to their precipitation and the obstruction of small vessels	[24]
50		C10H9AgN4O2S	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella, E. coli, and S. aureus	Cytotoxicity	[43]
51	Cadmium (Cd)	Cd (Cur)2	Penicillium verruculosum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus heteromorphus, Aspergillus flavus, and B. cereus	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
52		(CdL) Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataicola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhances the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[98]
53	Mercury (Hg)	Hg (Cur)2	P. verruculosum, A. niger, A. heteromorphus, A. flavus, and B. cereus	Membrane disruption by inhibiting ATPase activity	[88]
54		(HgL) Cl2	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhancing the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[99]
55	Vanadium (V)	[VOL] SO4	Antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizoctonia bataticola	Disturbing respiratory mechanism and blocking metal binding site by delocalization of π-electrons over the whole chelate ring and enhancing the penetration of the complexes into lipid membranes	[1]