Antibacterial and antifungal activity of lawsone and novel naphthoquinone derivatives.

INTRODUCTION: Naphthoquinone derivatives are under investigation as potential therapeutic agents. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of lawsone and of some novel naphthoquinone derivatives was assessed in vitro. METHODS: The antimicrobial activity was determined using diffusion disk and the broth microdilution methods against seven bacteria and three Candida species, according to recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS: Two compounds (P05 et P06) presented a good antibacterial effectiveness against two gram-positive bacteria. No antifungal potency was observed against the three Candida albicans strains used in the test. CONCLUSION: Our results prove that the introduction of substituents on ketone function position 4 decreased the antimicrobial properties of the synthetized compounds.