Quinolone: a versatile therapeutic compound class

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. [GRAPHICS]

Automated summary

The discovery of nalidixic acid in medicinal chemistry has had a profound impact, leading to the development of life-saving antimicrobial agents known as fluoroquinolones. However, the applications of quinolone compounds extend beyond fluoroquinolones, showing activity against various diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, fungal and helminth infections. The versatility of the quinolone pharmacophore as a therapeutic agent is of great interest to researchers in diverse disciplines.