Synthesis and anti-mycobacterial activity of (E)-N′-(monosubstituted-benzylidene)isonicotinohydrazide derivatives

A series of 22 (E)-N'-(monosubstituted-benzylidene)isonicotinohydrazide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV using Alamar Blue susceptibility test and the activity expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in mu g/mL. Compounds 2f, 2g, 2j, 2k and 2q exhibited a significant activity (0.31-0.62 mu g/mL) when compared with first line drugs such as isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIP) and could be a good starting point to develop new lead compounds in the fight against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.