Review Article: Various Biological Activities of Coumarin and Oxadiazole Derivatives.

Abstract

In this review article data is collected regarding the various derivatives of coumarin and oxadiazole as both these have wide range of biological activities and they can be further modified to synthesize more effective and potent drugs. Coumarin class of organic compounds consists of 1,2-benzopyrone ring system as a basic parent scaffold. These benzopyrones are subdivided into alpha-benzopyrones and gamma benzopyrones; with coumarin class of compounds belonging to alpha-benzopyrones. Since the last few years, coumarins were synthesized in many of their derivative forms. Their pharmacological, therapeutic and biochemical properties depend upon their pattern of substitution. Coumarins exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, which includes anti-diabetic, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anticancer, anti-oxidant, anti-parasitic, anti-helminthic, anti-proliferative, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive activities. 1,3,4-Oxadiazole is a heterocyclic compound containing an oxygen atom and two nitrogen atoms in a five-membered ring. It is derived from furan by substitution of two methylene groups (=CH) with two pyridine type nitrogens (-N=). There are three known isomers: 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole and 1,2,5- oxadiazole. Oxadiazole moiety shows antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity and suitably substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole having biological activities like antimicrobial, anticancer and other biological activities.