1,4‐Naphthoquinone Analogs and Their Application as Antibacterial Agents

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever‐increasing range of infections caused by different types of bacteria. Addressing antibacterial resistance and protecting human health requires multi‐sectoral, long‐acting, and professional administration. Sustainable investment in the R&D of antimicrobial drugs is one of the critical strategies for solving the current problem. Specifically, the development of novel effective drug candidates with a unique mode of action is essential for overcoming antibacterial resistance. 1,4‐Naphthoquinone is a quinone derivative from naphthalene, one of the most important subclasses of quinone. 1,4‐Naphthoquinones have been studied as potential candidates against various diseases, including cancer and malaria, and are a promising new compound that can treat bacterial infections. This review focuses on 1,4‐naphthoquinone analogs for their activity against bacteria.

Anti‐inflammatory Potential of 1,4‐Naphthoquinone Acyl Thiourea Hybrids on Lipopolysaccharide‐Activated Mammalian Macrophages, and Their Acid Dissociation Constants

“…It has been stated in previous studies that 1,4-naphthoquinone acyl thiourea hybrids can be used as drug candidates thanks to their molecular weight, hydrogen bond donor and acceptor numbers, as well as have antimicrobial, antiviral, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-neurodegenerative properties. [1][2][3] Since naphthoquinone hybrids are naphthalene-derived, they transfer naphthalene to their hybrids without losing their cytotoxic effect. The FDA approval of most naphthalene-based, derivative, and hybrid drugs also increases the potential of these new hybrids to be used as drug candidates.…”

“…Naphthoquinone is one of the most studied pharmacophore groups in medicinal chemistry and it is known to be present in the molecular structure of many natural and synthetic bioactive compounds [1–3] . Compounds containing naphthoquinone moiety exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities such as anti‐inflammatory, [4,5] antimicrobial, [6–8] antiviral, [9] antimalarial, [10] and anticancer [11,12] as well as DNA cleavage activity [13] .…”

“…Naphthoquinone is one of the most studied pharmacophore groups in medicinal chemistry and it is known to be present in the molecular structure of many natural and synthetic bioactive compounds. [1][2][3] Compounds containing naphthoquinone moiety exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, [4,5] antimicrobial, [6][7][8] antiviral, [9] antimalarial, [10] and anticancer [11,12] as well as DNA cleavage activity. [13] In recent years, studies have been conducted in which various naphthoquinone derivatives have been synthesized for the treatment of Alzheimer's, and their activities on enzymes associated with this disease have been investigated.…”

Annulations involving p-benzoquinones: stereoselective synthesis of fused, spiro and bridged molecules

“…Cyclic diketones are important structural motifs and widely distributed in numerous bioactive scaffolds, agrochemicals and organic materials. 1–4 Among them, quinones hold a distinguished position in the chemical landscape owing to their unique features and versatile reactivity. In fact, quinone substructures are ubiquitously found in nature with distinctive biological activities (Fig.…”

Exploring the anticancer and antibacterial potential of naphthoquinone derivatives: a comprehensive computational investigation

“…These derivatives manifest a spectrum of biological activities, encompassing antifungal, antitumor, and antiviral properties ( Deurenberg and Stobberingh, 2008 ; Stefani and Goglio, 2010 ). Their mechanisms of action as antibacterial agents are diverse, involving the disruption of protein and nucleic acid synthesis, modulation of redox processes, and induction of apoptosis in bacterial cells ( Loomba et al, 2010 ; Rossi et al, 2014 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). The wide range of activities underscores the potential of lawsone derivatives as versatile therapeutic agents.…”