Benzimidazole: a medicinally important heterocyclic moiety

Benzimidazole nucleus is a constituent of many bioactive heterocyclic compounds that are of wide interest because of their diverse biological and clinical applications. Moreover, benzimidazole derivatives are structural isosters of naturally occurring nucleotides, which allows them to interact easily with the biopolymers of the living system. This created interest in researchers who have synthesized variety of benzimidazole derivatives and screened them for their various biological activities, viz., anticancer, hormone antagonist, antiviral, anti-HIV, anthelmintic, antiprotozoal, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, antiallergic, coagulant, anticoagulant, antioxidant as well antidiabetic activities.