Benzimidazole scaffolds as promising antiproliferative agents: a review

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most serious medical problem and second leading cause of death in the world, characterized by a deregulation of the cell cycle which mainly results in a progressive loss of cellular differentiation and uncontrolled cellular growth. The benzimidazole is a heterocyclic moiety found in extensive number of natural and biological active molecules. Benzimidazole derivatives might be considered as auxiliary isosters of nucleotides having attached heterocyclic cores in their structures, cooperate effortlessly with biopolymers and have potential action for chemotherapeutic applications. Benzimidazole and its derivatives displayed a wide range of biological activity because of its structural similarity with the naturally occurring nucleotides. Benzimidazole has established huge alertness in current time and is extremely significant heterocyclic pharmacophore in recent drug innovation and medicinal chemistry. The present review summarizes the chemistry of various substituted benzimidazole derivatives with their antiproliferative significance towards the various cancer cell lines such as HCT116, MCF7, HeLa, HepG2, A549 and A431.

Keywords: Anticancer activity; Benzimidazole derivatives; MTT assay; SRB assay.

Fig. 1

Marketed drugs having benzimidazole moiety

Fig. 2

Molecular structures of compounds (1a–1b, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a–6b, 7a, 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a–11b, 12a–12b, 13a and 14a)

Fig. 3

Molecular structures of compounds (15a–15b, 16a–16b, 17a–17b, 18a, 19a, 20a–20c, 21a, 22a–22b and 23a)

Fig. 4

Molecular structures of compounds (24a–24c, 25a–25e, 26a, 27a, 28a, 29a, 30a and 31a–31c)

Fig. 5

Molecular structures of compounds (32a–32c, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a–37b, 38a, 39a–39b and 40a)

Fig. 6

Molecular structures of compounds (41a–41b, 42a–42c, 43a–43b, 44a–44b, 45a, 46a and 47a)