Recent advances of quinones as a privileged structure in drug discovery

Eur J Med Chem. 2021 Nov 5:223:113632. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113632. Epub 2021 Jun 15.

Abstract

Privileged structures are conductive to discover novel bioactive substances because they can bind to multiple targets with high affinity. Quinones are considered to be a privileged structure and useful template for the design of new compounds with potential pharmacological activity. This article presents the recent developments (2014-2021 update) of quinones in the fields of antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) and antimalarial, mainly focusing on biological activities, structural modification and mechanism of action.

Keywords: Biological activities; Mechanism of action; Privileged structure; Quinones; Structural modification.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Communicable Diseases / drug therapy
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nootropic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Nootropic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Quinones / chemical synthesis
  • Quinones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Quinones