New Quinoline Derivatives and their Antimicrobial Potential Against <i>Candida Albicans</i> and <i>Staphylococcus Aureus</i>

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global health concern, demanding the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Quinoline derivatives emerge as promising candidates with their diverse chemical structures and recognized bioactive properties. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial potency of newly synthesized quinoline derivatives against Candida albicans and five bacterial strains, which are responsible for various infections and have exhibited varying degrees of antibiotic resistance. A series of quinoline derivatives were synthesized through simple structural modifications, such as the inclusion of nitro, amino, and hydrazino groups, or using the molecular hybridization strategy, involving the combination of quinoline and 1,2,3‐triazoles. None of the compounds showed promising activity against the bacterial strains. However, a promising fungistatic effect was observed against C. albicans . In this test, two of the compounds showed lower MIC values than fluconazole (25 μg/mL). In addition, the most promising compounds showed high affinity for the enzyme lanosterol 14 alpha demethylase, due to the low energy values found (−7.6 and −8.2 kcal/mol). Our study offers new avenues for future drug development in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.