Synthesis and evaluation for antimicrobial activity of curcumin derivatives and related compounds

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized by the World Health Organization as a top global health threat, with 4.95 million deaths attributed to AMR in 2019 [ 1 ]. The rise of resistant bacterial strains has rendered many conventional antibiotics ineffective, necessitating the search for alternative therapeutics. Curcumin, a bioactive diarylheptanoid from Curcuma longa , has been used medicinally for over 4,000 years [ 2 ]. It exhibits antimicrobial, anti-cancerous, and anti-Alzheimer’s potential but has limited clinical application due to poor physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties [ 3 ]. To address this, curcumin derivatives (CDs) were synthesized using the Claisen-Schmidt reaction, while the Suzuki coupling was explored to extend carbon side chains. A library of CDs were synthesized, guided by literature, prior research, and in silico predictions using SWISSADME. The compounds were characterized via NMR, IR, and MS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Escherichia coli . Positive inhibitory activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA was established by specific derivatives. Structure-activity relationship analysis highlighted enhanced activity in derivatives with substituted central rings, halogen substituents, or bulky side groups. Future research will focus on improving solubility and optimizing Suzuki reaction conditions for potential drug development ([ Fig. 1 ]). Fig. 1 General reaction scheme for the synthesis of curcumin derivatives. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany