Coumarin: A Promising Scaffold for Design and Development of Bioactive Agents

Background: As coumarin derivatives are known to prevent and treat various diseases, they have attracted the attention of medicinal chemists. They have strong potential as drugs because their benzopyrone structure can interact noncovalently with numerous enzymes and receptors. Methods: The aim of this review was to summarize the most recently published literature on coumarin derivatives in terms of their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other miscellaneous properties. Results: Coumarin derivatives have a wide range of biological activities. They exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-coagulant, and anti-Alzheimer effects. Conclusion: The coumarin nucleus is an interesting starting point for the design and development of novel bioactive agents. The present review may help medicinal chemists design biologically active molecules based on the coumarin nucleus.