CAS 3569-82-2: 2,6,7-trihydroxy-9-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-xanthen-3-one

Salicylfluorone is a molybdenum and copper complex that is used as an antimicrobial agent. It has been shown to be effective against nitrite-producing bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Salicylfluorone inhibits the activity of bacterial enzymes by binding to their active sites, preventing the formation of reactive oxygen species in vitro. The reaction mechanism is not well understood but it is proposed that salicylfluorone may act by forming a hydrogen bond with the enzyme or by binding to a potential drug target site on the enzyme or its substrate. Salicylfluorone has not been tested in vivo but there are indications from in vitro assays that it may have therapeutic potential for treating chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.