Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram +) and Escherichia coli (Gram-) Bacteria Show Sensitivity Against Hymecromone Divalent Transition Metal Complexes of Cobalt and Copper

Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global public health threat. Pathogenic bacteria, like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus species, are responsible for zoonotic diseases and high economic loss in farming and the food industry. Our strategy was to create a new chelate ligand derivative from the hymecromone drug and stabilize divalent metal ions to increase the drug's antibacterial activity. Cobalt (II) and Copper (II) complexes showed significant antibacterial activity compared with the established antibiotic Kanamycin. The copper complex had a minimum inhibition concentration of 30 mg/ml, while the cobalt one had a 20 mg/ml MIC.