In this study, novel hexa coordinated ruthenium(III) complex of the type Na[RuCl2L2)] (where L = monobasic bidentate Schiff base derived from the condensation of 5-nitrosalicyladehyde with aniline) has been synthesized and characterized by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry. Schiff base N-phenyl-5-nitrosalicylideneimine is coordinated to the ruthenium via imine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen. Mass spectra showed molecular ion (M-) at m/z 653.9641 which corresponds to [C26H18Cl2N4O6Ru]. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of the Schiff base and the complex were tested by micro-dilution technique and agar plate assay for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The compounds showed a higher antibacterial activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 and ATCC 29213), whereas against the Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603) were ineffective. The genotoxic effects of Ru(III) complex were investigated using the Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay in human lymphocytes cultures. The cell culture treated with the complex at a concentration of 3.7 μg/mL exhibit the most prominent effect of decreasing the frequency of micronucleus for 44%, while at the concentrations of 1.5 and 7.4 μg/mL effect is slightly lower (40%), compared to the control cell culture.

Pharmacognosy as a science of natural medicinal raw materials and drugs of natural origin is a science that protects nature and affects the survival and protection of man. From the earliest times, man was exploring everything that nature provides. With the development of science and technology, research into natural raw materials, as well as those with healing activity, was perfected. The obtained results could reliably be used in official pharmacopoeia, medicine and dentistry. With the development of computer technology, there has been more detailed information on the use of natural medicinal raw materials through Phytotherapy, which is increasingly being applied. All these studies indicate that pharmacognosic studies with the goal of using natural medicinal substances and medicines of natural origin must not be called alternative medicine, but it is the same as all other medicines that are only adapted to the nature of natural raw materials.