Pharmacological applications of azomethine derivatives in the therapy of different diseases

Compounds with an azomethine structure belong to different chemical classes—they are hydrazones, phenylhydrazones, semicarbazones, thiosemicarbazones, and oximes. Interest in these compounds has been particularly high recently due to the fact that they exhibit a number of biological activities. The presence of an azomethine group has been found to be responsible for the anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-COVID-19, antifungal, antimalarial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, antidiabetic, antiarthritic, antidepressant, and antiepileptic pharmacological activities. The fragment of the azomethine group is contained in the chemical structure of a large number of drugs with applications in the treatment of various pathologies. Drugs—azomethine derivatives with the following pharmacological effects—are used in therapy: antitumor: mitoguazone, triapine, zorubicin; antiinfective: nitrofurazone, nitrofurantoin, nifurzide, nifuroxazide, nifuratel; antiviral: metisazone; antiarrhythmic: azimilide; acetylcholinesterase reactivators: pralidoxime, obidoxime, rimedoxime, methoxime; muscle relaxants: dantrolene, azumolene; antiplatelet: carbazochrome; antimigraine: iprazochrome; antidepressants: fluvoxamine; antimicrobial oxime-based cephalosporins—2 nd generation: cefuroxime, cefuzonam, cefteram; 3 rd generation: cefdinir, cefdaloxime, cefixime, ceftizoxime, cefetamet, cefpodoxime, cefotaxime, cefditoren, cefodizime, ceftiofur, cefteram, cefmenoxime, ceftriaxone, ceftiolene, ceftazidime; 4 th generation: cefepime, cefpirome, cefozoprame; 5 th generation: ceftobiprole, ceftaroline, cefiderocol. This article reviews in detail compounds containing Schiff bases and their derivatives, including drugs with an azomethine structure, as well as their biological properties and applications.