A Schiff base ligand 4-[indol-3-yl]-but-3-en-2-one benzoyl hydrazone (HL), and its four transition metal complexes (ML2,M=Cu(, Ni(, Zn( and Co() have been prepared and characterized by means of elemental analysis, EI-MS, molar conductivity, IR, UV-Vis and 1H NMR. The results showed that HL as a bidentate ligand coordinated with transition metal ions to form four-coordination complexes. The antibacterial activity was studied by using the filter scraps diffusion method, and the results indicated that the ligand and the complexes had a low bacteriostatic activity against S. Aureu, P. Aeruginosa and E. Coli. The low in vitro antitumor activity of the title complexes was also observed by using MTT method against KB, A2780, Bel7402 and HELF.
