Chalcone Derivatives As Potential Biological Activities

Chalcones are the biogenetic precursors of flavonoids and Isoflavonoids, which are abundant in plants. Chalcones are active lead molecules in medicinal chemistry for the discovery of new drugs. Here, we review properties, biosynthesis and structural diversity of natural chalcones. Chalcones are a group of naturally occurring compounds that have biological effects that include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antibacterial properties. Chalcones are active lead molecules in medicinal chemistry for the discovery of new drugs. Chalcone is a privileged species with medicinal significance as it consists of reactive keto ethylenic moiety–CO–CH=CH– belonging to flavonoids. The presence of a reactive α, β-unsaturated carbonyl function in chalcone and its derivatives is the reason for its pharmacological activities. Chalcones exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anthelmintic, antiulcer, antiviral, insecticidal, antiprotozoal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic. Chalcones can be synthesized by Claisen–Schmidt’s condensation, Heck’s reaction, Suzuki’s reaction. Multifaceted and complex underlying mechanisms of chalcone actions demonstrated their ability to modulate a number of cancer cell lines, to inhibit a number of pathological microorganisms and parasites, and to control a number of signalling molecules and cascades related to disease modification.