Syntheses, structural characterization and evaluation of the anti-tubercular activity of copper (II) complexes containing 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde-4-methylthiosemicarbazone

•Copper (II) complexes having 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde-4-methylthiosemicarbazone were synthesized and characterized using spectral techniques like FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis, ESR, TGA and VSM.•SC-XRD data of complex 2 showed a distorted square pyramidal geometry.•The anti-tubercular activity of all the complexes is 103 times better than standard drugs used while exhibiting low cytotoxicity.•Selectivity index value shows that complexes can be excellent anti-TB agents if treated in vivo.