A multitude of distinct Mannich bases have been synthesized and evaluated as potential
therapeutics for a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions, either in the form of prodrugs
or as molecules that trigger a biological response from specific targets. The Mannich reaction has
been utilized to enhance the biological activity of numerous compounds, resulting in notable
progress in various areas such as anticonvulsant, antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative,
antibacterial, antimicrobial, antitubercular, antiprotozoal, topoisomerases I and II
inhibition, α-glucosidase inhibition, carbonic anhydrase inhibition, as well as research related to
anti-Alzheimer's disease and anti-Parkinson's disease. Bioactive semisynthetic Mannich bases derived
from natural compounds such as chalcone, curcumin, and thymol have also been identified.
Pharmaceutical compounds characterized by low solubility may encounter challenges related to
their oral bioavailability, half-life, distribution within tissues, rapid metabolism, toxicity, and various
other relevant variables. Mannich bases have the ability to undergo protonation under physiological
circumstances, facilitating interactions between ligands and receptors, and enhancing their
solubility in water. The experimental findings indicate that the solubility of Mannich base prodrugs
is higher compared to that of the parent compound. The use of the multicomponent Mannich
reaction has been established as a valuable synthetic methodology for the construction of multifunctional
compounds through the application of diverse synthetic strategies under varying reaction
conditions. The continuous investigation of synthetic techniques for Mannich reactions involves
several approaches, such as employing protocols in aquatic environments, utilizing catalysts
that are both biodegradable and reusable, exploring the use of ionic liquids, investigating
solvent-free and/or catalyst-free media, and exploring reaction conditions involving microwave
and ultrasound irradiation.
Consequently, the Mannich reaction has emerged as a powerful technique in the field of medicinal
chemistry. It is utilized for the creation of new chemical compounds that possess diverse and attractive
biologic features. Additionally, this reaction is employed to alter the physicochemical
properties of a potential drug candidate, thereby influencing its bioavailability, efficacy, and pharmacological
activity. Due to their favorable bioactivities and synthesis techniques, Mannich bases
remain a subject of ongoing attention in the field of medical and pharmaceutical chemistry.