Quinolone: a versatile therapeutic compound class

Mol Divers. 2023 Jun;27(3):1501-1526. doi: 10.1007/s11030-022-10581-8. Epub 2022 Dec 17.

Abstract

The discovery of nalidixic acid is one pinnacle in medicinal chemistry, which opened a new area of research that has led to the discovery of several life-saving antimicrobial agents (generally referred to as fluoroquinolones) for over decades. Although fluoroquinolones are frequently encountered in the literature, the utility of quinolone compounds extends far beyond the applications of fluoroquinolones. Quinolone-based compounds have been reported for activity against malaria, tuberculosis, fungal and helminth infections, etc. Hence, the quinolone scaffold is of great interest to several researchers in diverse disciplines. This article highlights the versatility of the quinolone pharmacophore as a therapeutic agent beyond the fluoroquinolone profile.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Antimalarial; Antitrypanosomal; Antituberculosis; Quinolone; Therapeutic agent.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / chemistry
  • Fluoroquinolones / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Quinolones* / chemistry
  • Quinolones* / pharmacology
  • Quinolones* / therapeutic use
  • Tuberculosis* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Quinolones
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents