Various biological activities of coumarin and oxadiazole derivatives

Abstract

In this review article, data are 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, coumarins were synthesized in many of their derivative forms since the last few years. Their pharmacological, therapeutic, and biochemical properties depend on their pattern of substitution. Coumarins exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, which includes antidiabetic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive activities, and anti-helminthic. 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 with two pyridine type nitrogens. There are three known isomers: 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-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 such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and other biological activities.