Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Tryptanthrin Derivatives

Abstract

Tryptanthrin (T) and 13 of its derivatives (T2NH₂, T2Cl, T2Br, T2NO₂, T8OMe, T8Me, T8F, T8Br, T8NO₂, T2NH₂8OMe, T2NH₂8NO₂, T2Br8Br, and T2NO₂8NO₂) were synthesized, and their antimicrobial activities against a gram-positive bacterium (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA) and a fungus (Malassezia furfur) were investigated. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were influenced by the substituents on tryptanthrin, with halogen-substituted tryptanthrin derivatives (T2Cl, T2Br, T8F, T8Br, and T2Br8Br) showing the highest potency against MRSA and M. furfur.