A new bismuth(III) Schiff-base complex [Bi 2 (HL) 2 (NO 3 ) 4 (CH 3 OH)]•2CH 3 OH was prepared by reaction of the equivalent molar of Schiff-base ligandand Bi (NO 3 ) 3 •5H 2 O with the assistance of mannitol. The complex was structurally characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, MS, 1 HNMR, and 13 CNMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecular structure of the complex reveals that the ligand forms a 1:1 complex with bismuth(III) ion. It is composed of two 7-coordinated bismuth(III) ions, two tetradentate O 2 N-donor ligands, four nitrate ions, and three methanol molecules. The complex and its free ligand were evaluated against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The complex was more active than the ligand against all bacterial strains. Their cytotoxic activity was also investigated against SNU-16 cell. The complex is approximately three times more potent than the ligand, with the IC 50 values 0.35 and 1.18 μM for the complex and its ligand, respectively.