Abstract

A series of Schiff bases 1-20 was synthesised by the condensation of isatin with primary aromatic amines. All the synthesized compounds 1-20 were randomly screened for their in vitro anti-leishmanial potential. Compounds 2, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 16 also showed good anti-leishmanial activities having IC50 value 4.77 ± 0.1, 6.85 ± 0.21, 1.84 ± 0.2, 2.44 ± 0.03, 4.70 ± 0.04 and 8.58 ± 0.04 μg/mL, respectively. Remaining compounds with IC50 values grater than 10.00 μg/mL were considered to be inactive. Their activity was compared with standard drugs, amphotericin B (IC50 = 0.12 ± 0.41 μg/mL) and pentamidine (IC50 = 2.56 ± 0.1 μg/mL). The structures of all the synthesised compounds were deduced by spectroscopic analysis.