Antimicrobial activity of Dibenzalacetone (C17H14O)

Dibenzalacetone was synthesized via the base catalysed condensation reaction between acetone and benzaldehyde. This study was done to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compound dibenzalacetone (C17H14O) against four human pathogenic microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginiosa and the fungus Candida albicans. The highest area of zone of inhibition of 68.23 mm2 was induced against Candida albicans and the lowest AZOI of 37.55 mm2 was induced against E.coli. Staphylococcus aureus was totally resistant to the drug, in that zero zone of inhibition was induced against dibenzalacetone. The order of antimicrobial potency followed the sequence: Candida albicans > Klebsiella pneumoniae > Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Staphylococcus aureus. However, its antimicrobial potency was lowered than that of standard synthetic drug, Ampicillin and Ketoconazole.