Exploring Imidazole and Its Derivatives : Versatile Agents with Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Viral Capabilities

Abstract

Heterocyclic compounds constitute the largest and most diverse family of organic compounds. Various imidazole-containing compounds have been investigated for their medical potential in clinical trials targeting several disease conditions. The rapid expansion of imidazole-based medicinal chemistry suggests the promising therapeutic value of imidazole-derived compounds for treating incurable diseases. Imidazole is a five-membered heterocyclic moiety composed of three carbon, two nitrogen, four hydrogen atoms, and two double bonds. It is also known as 1,3-diazole. Imidazole compounds exhibit antimicrobial properties by disrupting DNA double-strand helix and inhibiting protein kinase. The introduction of highly functional imidazole has also spurred significant advancements in the field of chemotherapeutic agents. This systematic review aims to facilitate the design and discovery of more potent and efficient imidazole compounds based on previous research, as well as the chemistry and biological activity of imidazole.