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Ferrocenyl chalcone derivatives as possible antimicrobial agents

The Journal of Antibiotics volume 73, pages 299–308 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

The swift spread of infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has quickly become a worldwide concern as infections spread from healthcare settings to the wider community. While ferrocenyl chalcones, which are chalcone derivatives with antimicrobial activity, have gained attention from researchers, further study is needed to assess their cytotoxicity. Ten newly developed chalcones, in which ring A was replaced with a ferrocenyl moiety and ring B contained increasing alkyl chain lengths from 1 to 10 carbons, were assessed. Using twofold broth microdilution, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five of the ten compounds were lower against Gram-positive organisms (MICs from 0.008 mg ml−1 to 0.063 mg ml−1) than Gram-negative organisms (MICs = 0.125 mg ml−1). These novel ferrocenyl chalcone compounds were effective against three types of clinically isolated drug-resistant S. aureus, including an MRSA, and against other non-resistant clinically isolated and laboratory-adapted Gram-positive bacteria. The same compounds inhibited growth in non-resistant bacteria by potentially obstructing cellular respiration in Gram-positive bacteria. Images obtained through scanning electron microscopy revealed fully lysed bacterial cells once exposed to a selected compound that showed activity. The results indicate that these newly developed compounds could be important antimicrobial agents in the treatment of infections from clinically resistant bacteria.

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Acknowledgements

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The ferrocenyl chalcone compounds were provided by L. Crouch and R. Smith (University of Central Lancashire) and the clinical isolates were donated by M. Collins (Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).

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Author notes

  1. Elecia J. Henry

    Present address: Department of Food Production, University of the West Indies, Frank Stockdale Building, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences and Education, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DF, UK

    Elecia J. Henry, Susan J. Bird & Pauline Gowland

  2. Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chesterfield Road, Calow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5BL, UK

    Michael Collins

  3. School of Law, Policing and Forensics, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DF, UK

    John P. Cassella

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Correspondence to Elecia J. Henry.

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Henry, E.J., Bird, S.J., Gowland, P. et al. Ferrocenyl chalcone derivatives as possible antimicrobial agents. J Antibiot 73, 299–308 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-020-0280-y

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