Nat. Volatiles & Essent.

Oils, 2021; 8(4): 13223-13229

Heterocyclic Compounds And Their Applications In The Field

Of Biology: A Detailed Study

Nilima Dnyanadeo Mahajan 1 , Prof. Dr. Neelu Jain 2

1Research Scholar, Shri Satya Sai University of Technology and Medical Sciences, Sehore. M.P. India
466001

2
P. G. Dept. of Chemistry, Shri Satya Sai University of Technology and Medical Sciences, Sehore. (M. P.)
India

Abstract:

Heterocyclic chemistry is a good example of a lack of clear boundaries; in fact, it pervades a wide range of other
chemical specialties. Heterocycles are intricately linked to the processes of life. The pharmaceutical and
agrochemical industries' keen interest in heterocycles is frequently linked to their natural occurrence. A
cornucopia of heterocyclic systems may be found in synthetic chemistry. Heterocyclic compounds are found in
more than 90% of novel medications, and they span the boundary between chemistry and biology, where so much
new scientific insight, discovery, and application occurs. This review article discusses the most active heterocycles
that have demonstrated antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, herbicidal, and
anticancer activity in animals.

Keywords: Heterocyclic, nitrogenous base, biological active, antimicrobial, essential, Gram Positive, GramNegative.

1. Introduction:
Heterocyclic chemistry is one of the most important areas of organic chemistry research. Heterocycles
are the most important of the traditional organic divisions of organic chemistry, and their structural
Skelton components make them extremely important physiologically and industrially. They are common
in our environment and can be found naturally in nucleic acid, vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, and
other substances. From a biological and industrial standpoint, their contribution to society's evolution is
of greater interest. Heterocycles are also important in gaining a better knowledge of life processes and

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efforts to improve quality of life. Heterocyclic compounds are found in more than 90% of novel
medications, and they span the boundary between chemistry and biology, where so much new scientific
insight, discovery, and application occurs. In pharmacy, medicine, agriculture, plastics, polymers, and
other industries, compounds formed from heterocyclic rings are used. Antifungal, anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, herbicidal, and anticancer activity have been demonstrated in
the majority of active heterocycles. Novel and efficient procedures for synthesising new heterocycles
are continuously in high demand. In the synthesis of Schiff's bases, alum has been utilised as a new
catalyst. ICH class 1 and class 2 solvents are not used in the synthesised Schiff's bases, and there are no
structural alarms or genotoxic contaminants.

2. History of Heterocyclic Chemistry

“Two hundred years ago, the chemical science was an undivided field around 1900 a division into
inorganic, organic and physical chemistry became necessary. An increase of factual material enforced a
progressive segmentation into sub disciplines Heterocyclic compounds constitute the largest and most
varied family of organic compounds” [1].
The history of heterocyclic chemistry began in the 1800s, in step with the development of
organic chemistry. Some noteworthy developments 1818. Brugnatelli isolates Alloxan from uric acid
1832. Dobereiner produces furfural (afuran) by treating starch with sulfuric acid1834: Runge obtains
pyrrole ("fiery oil") by dry distillation of bones1906. Friedlander synthesizes indigo dye, allowing
synthetic chemistry to displace a large agricultural industry1936: Treibsisolates chlorophyll derivatives
from crude oil, explaining the biological origin of petroleum1951: Chargaff's rules aredescribed,
highlighting the role of heterocyclic compounds (purines and pyrimidines) in the genetic code.
Several notable development in heterocycles are, In general, the physical and chemical
properties of heterocyclic compounds are best understood by comparing them with ordinary organic
compounds that do not contain heteroatoms.
Based on the structural and electronic arrangement the heterocyclic compounds may be
classified into two categories.
i. Aliphatic heterocyclic compounds
ii. Aromatic heterocyclic compounds
The aliphatic heterocyclic compounds are the cyclic amines, cyclic amides, cyclic ethers and
cyclic thioethers. Aliphatic heterocycles those do not contain double bonds are called
saturatedheterocycles. The properties of aliphatic heterocycles are mainly affected by the ring strain.

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Fig. 1 :Examples of aliphatic heterocyclic compounds

Aromatic heterocyclic compounds are analogous of benzene. The aromatic heterocyclic compounds also
follow the Huckel’s rule. According to Huckel’s rule an aromatic compounds must be cyclic in nature
with planar geometry due to conjugate double bonds and must have (4n+2)π electrons.

Fig. 2 :Examples of aromatic heterocyclic compounds

3. Significance of Heterocyclic Compounds

Heterocycles have been found a key structural in medical chemistry and also they are frequently found
in large percent in biomolecules such as enzyme, vitamins, natural products and biological active
compounds including antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticonvulsant,
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antiallergic, enzyme inhibitors, herbicidal activity, anti-HIV, antidiabetic, anticancer activity, insecticidal
agents.

I. Antifungal activity
It is a term that refers to substances or treatments that are used to treat a fungal infection that most
usually affects the skin, hair, and nails. Ringworm and athlete's foot, for example, are prevalent fungal
illnesses. The function of antifungal treatment is that it kills fungal cells by disrupting the chemicals in
the cell membrane, causing the contents of the cell to seep out and the cell to die. Another method is
to stop fungal cells from growing and reproducing.
Molnar et al. [2] have synthesized a “series of dipicolinic acid derivatives, some of it show
antifungal activity against fungal strains called Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium
graminearum and Fusarium verticilioides.”

Fig.3: Antifungal Activity Against Fungal Strains

II. Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment thatreduces inflammation. Anti-
inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducinginflammation as
opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs
(NSAIDs), Some common examples of NSAIDs are: aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. The newer
specificCOX-inhibitors - although, it is presumed, sharing a similar mode of action - are not classified
together with thetraditional NSAIDs. Long-term use of NSAIDs can cause gastric erosions, which can
become stomachulcers and in extreme cases can cause severe haemorrhage, resulting in death. The risk
of death as a result of useof NSAIDs is 1 in 12,000 for adults aged 16–45. The risk increases almost
twentyfold for those over 75. Otherdangers of NSAIDs are exacerbating asthma and causing kidney
damage. Apart from aspirin, prescription andover-the-counter NSAIDs also increase the risk of
myocardial infarction and stroke.

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Li et al. [3] have isolated “six compounds Nauclea officinalis (Pierre ex Pit.) and compared the
activity of it.”

Fig. 4: Anti-inflammatory

III. Medicinal significance

A large number of pharmacologically active heterocyclic compounds are used to treat a variety of
disorders. There are a large number of pharmacologically active heterocyclic compounds that are used
as antimicrobials, herbicides, urinary antiseptics, and anti-inflammatory medicines in many common
disorders. Antitumor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antimalarial, anti-HIV, antimicrobial,
antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antidiabetic activities are all demonstrated by several
heterocycles.

IV. Biological Significance

Few heterocyclic compounds with the five-membered oxadiazole nucleus have a wide range of
biological applications. Moieties are significant due to their diverse biological functions. The medications
listed below have heterocycles in their nucleus and are used to treat a variety of disorders.
Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Immunomodulatory agents, Antiepileptic, Antiviral,
Antineoplastic, Antihypertensive, Antimalarial, Local Anesthetic, Antianxiety, Antidepressant as
Antihistaminic, Antioxidant, Antitubercular, Antiidiabetic, Antiobesity as Antimicrobial, Antiviral,
Antineoplastic, Antihypertensive, Antimalarial, Anti Penicillin and Cephalosporin are examples of
antibiotics.

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V. Anticancer activity
Cancer is a term used to describe a group of diseases characterised by abnormal cell proliferation that
has the potential to infiltrate or spread to other parts of the body. This condition is caused by a variety
of factors, including chemical compounds and radiation energy. A variety of medications are used to
treat this condition, either by killing cancer cells or modifying their growth. We'll go over the most
recent synthetic substances that have been employed for this purpose.
Liu et al. [4] have been “synthesized 6-OH-Phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloid and its derivatives,
which are exert a potent anticancer activity bydelaying the S phase progression of the cell.”

Fig. 5: Anticancer Activity

Conclusion
Heterocycles make up almost all of the chemicals we recognise as medications, vitamins, and a variety
of other natural goods. As a result, heterocyclic chemistry is the focus of a large portion of chemical
research. Because of the obvious applications of chemicals formed from heterocyclic rings in pharmacy,
medicine, agriculture, plastics, polymers, and other industries, it is a wide and increasing area of
chemistry. Heterocyclic compounds can be found in abundance in nature. They could be used in the
treatment of infectious disorders due to their therapeutic qualities. Many heterocyclic compounds that
have been produced in laboratories have been employed as therapeutic medicines with great
effectiveness.

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