Synthesis, spectroscopic, antimicrobial and in vitro anticancer activity of Co+2, Ni+2, Cu+2 and Zn+2 metal complexes with novel Schiff base

•A new novel Schiff base 5-methyl-3-((5-nitrosalicylidene) amino)-pyrazole have been synthesized.•Cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc metal complexes with this ligand have been prepared.•All the compounds have been characterized by different physicochemical techniques and geometry suggested for the cobalt, nickel and zinc complexes was octahedral and square planar for copper complexes.•All the compounds were tested against bacterial and fungal strains and complexes showed high activity than the ligand.•Anticancer activity of all the compounds have been carried out against HCT-116.