Twelve new complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II) with 5-phenyl, 5-p-tolyl and 5-aminothioacetimide-azo-8-hydroxyquinoline have been synthesized. The ligands act as bidentate (NO) chelating agents forming the bis-chelate complexes. Analytical, conductivity, spectral and thermal data are consistent with six coordinated structure in the case of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and four coordinate structure in the case of the analogues Cd(II). It is identified that the metal chelates possess enhanced antibacterial and antifungal activities relative to the free ligands