Design and Development of Triazole Derivatives as Prospective Anticancer Agents: A Review

Background: In recent years, there has been a crucial need for the design and development of novel anticancer drugs that can lessen the serious health problems and unwanted side effects associated with currently used anticancer drugs. The triazole nucleus is well-recognized to possess numerous pharmacological activities, including anticancer, as revealed by various investigations on anticancer drugs and the latest research findings. Objective: The aim of this review article is to summarise the anticancer potential of 1, 2, 3-triazole, 1, 2, 4-triazole and heterocycle-fused triazole derivatives against several human cancer cell lines, compiling research articles published between 2010 and 2021. Methods: Data were collected from PubMed, Google scholar and Research Gate using keywords “anticancer activity of 1, 2, 3-triazole derivatives”, “anticancer activity of 1, 2, 4-triazole derivatives” and “anticancer activity of heterocycle- fused triazole derivatives” and reviewed comprehensively. Results: This review examines the anticancer potential of 1,2,3-triazole coupledoleanolic acid/dithiocarbamate/ pyrido[ 2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives, 1,2,3-triazole linked pyrimidine/1,4-naphthoquinone hybrids, and 1,2,4-triazole substituted methanone derivatives, acridine-based 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, 1,2,4-thiadiazol coupled with 1,2,4- triazole and 5-ene-thiazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]triazole-6(5H)-one derivatives against several human cancer cell lines. Conclusion: This review highlights the key findings in the area of cancer therapy. Triazole derivatives possess anticancer activity against various human cancer cell lines, and hence the triazole core may act as a lead molecule for the synthesis of novel anticancer drugs.