Synthesis of compounds having antimicrobial activity from alginate

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Organic synthesis
• Antimicrobial drug discovery

Background:

• Sodium alginate, a polysaccharide from brown algae, is a sustainable starting material.
• Antimicrobial resistance necessitates the development of new therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel antimicrobial compounds from sodium alginate.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of synthesized compounds against pathogenic microbes.

Main Methods:

• Sodium alginate was oxidized to alginate dialdehyde (ADA).
• ADA was condensed with o-phenylenediamine analogs via stirring and microwave irradiation.
• Products were characterized using FTIR and UV spectroscopy.
• Antimicrobial activity was assessed against pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Main Results:

• Microwave synthesis provided higher yields and shorter reaction times compared to stirring.
• FTIR and UV spectra confirmed Schiff-base formation.
• Five synthesized compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial potency against tested pathogens.

Conclusions:

• Sodium alginate is a viable precursor for synthesizing potent antimicrobial agents.
• Microwave-assisted synthesis is an efficient method for producing these compounds.
• The synthesized Schiff bases show promise for further development as antimicrobial drugs.