VARIOUS PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF COUAMRIN DERIVATIVES: A REVIEW

Coumarin-2H-chromen-2-one and its derivatives are widely distributed in nature. Coumarin belongs to a group as benzopyrones, which consists of a benzene ring joined to a pyrone nucleus. Coumarins exhibit a broad pharmacological profile. Coumarins are regarded as a promising class of bioactive heterocyclic compounds that exhibit a range of biological activities like anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer activity, anti-oxidant, anti- parasitic, anti-helmintic, anti-proliferative, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory and anti- hypertensive activities etc. The coumarins are of great interest due to their pharmacological properties. In particular, their physiological, bacteriostatic and anti-tumor activity makes these compounds attractive backbone derivatisation and screening as novel therapeutic agents.