Chalcone Promising Bioactive Structure in Medicinal Chemistry: A Review

Abstract

   In medicinal chemistry, privilege structures are essential and useful templates for the creation of new drugs. The chalcone scaffold stands out as one of the most basic yet important of these structures in this regard. Its unique structural features—the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system and a fully delocalized π-electron system—as well as its simplicity of chemical synthesis and great amenability to substitution, make it logical to do extensive research on it. Because of these characteristics, it has a relatively low redox potential, which increases the possibility that it will take part in biological electron transfer reactions. The purpose of this review is to offer a thorough and critical analysis in order to assess the therapeutic potential of chalcone and its derivatives. A wide range of biological activities, including strong antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, have been shown for these compounds. In particular, the review aims to examine the structure-activity relationship (SAR), with a focus on the reactive α,β-unsaturated keto function and its connection to the antibacterial mechanism. By looking at these various functions, this study aims to evaluate the advancements made thus far and pinpoint the present obstacles and research gaps required to fully realize chalcone's promise as a potent treatment for a variety of illnesses.