ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY AND STAINING PROPERTIES OF SOME SYMMETRICALLY FUNCTIONALIZED METAL PHTHALOCYANINE DYES

Effects of 1, 8, 15, 22-tetranitro Co(II) and Zn(II) phthalocyanines [3-NO2CoPc, 3-NO2ZnPc], 1,8,15,22-tetracyano Co(II) phthalocyanine [3-CNCoPc] and 2, 9, 16, 23-tetranitro iron(III)chlorophthalocyanine [4-NO2FePc] on the growth of the fungus Aspergillus niger were studied. All the four complexes inhibited the radial spread of the fungus selected for the study to different extents. A considerable inhibitory effect on growth was seen even in l ppm concentration. The order of inhibitory effect, measured for a period of 5 days is 3-NO2 ZnPc > 3-CNCoPc > 3-NO2CoPc > 4-NO2FePc. The presence of the peripherally substituted phthalocyanine complexes is found to alter the pigmentation property of the selected fungus. Safranin-phthalocyanine double staining technique using 3-NO2CoPc, 3-NO2ZnPc, 4-NO2FePc and 2, 9, 16, 23-tetrahydroxy iron(III)chlorophthalocyanine [4-OHFePc] on the stem sections of Hemidesmus indicus R Br and Polygonum punctatum Buch-Hum have been studied.