CYTOTOXICITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME NAPHTHOL DERIVATIVES

2-Hydroxymethyl-1-naphthol diacetate (TAC) and sixteen Mannich base de rivatives of naphthol were prepared and examined for cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity was examined against four human c arcinoma cell lines. Several derivatives were effective at concentrati ons < 4 mu g/ml. TAC showed the highest cytotoxicity. Inhibition of DN A-, RNA-, and protein synthesis by TAC was also studied and discussed. TAC also exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter clocae 23355, Klebsiella pneumonia 13883, Proteus vulgaris 13315, Pseu domonas aeruginosa 27853, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Tr ichosopson beigelli, and Rhodotorul spp. with minimum inhibitory conce ntrations of 0.1 similar to 0.4 mu M. These results indicate that este rification by Bruson reaction of 1-naphthol Mannich base to TAC enhanc es cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity.