Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Cancer remains a primary cause of mortality, with over 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths globally in 2018. Chemotherapy, which utilizes a spectrum of cytotoxic drugs targeting the rapidly dividing cancer cells, is a predominant treatment modality. However, the tendency of chemotherapeuti...

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Main Authors: Shouyan Xiang, Yubei Li, Shah Nawaz Khan, Weixin Zhang, Gaoyang Yuan, Jiahua Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/3/350
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author Shouyan Xiang
Yubei Li
Shah Nawaz Khan
Weixin Zhang
Gaoyang Yuan
Jiahua Cui
author_facet Shouyan Xiang
Yubei Li
Shah Nawaz Khan
Weixin Zhang
Gaoyang Yuan
Jiahua Cui
author_sort Shouyan Xiang
collection DOAJ
description Cancer remains a primary cause of mortality, with over 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths globally in 2018. Chemotherapy, which utilizes a spectrum of cytotoxic drugs targeting the rapidly dividing cancer cells, is a predominant treatment modality. However, the tendency of chemotherapeutics to induce drug resistance and exhibit non-specific cytotoxicity necessitates the development of new anticancer agents with heightened efficacy and minimized toxicity. In recent years, the discovery of safe and effective antibacterial/antiviral agents has also been a hot spot in medicinal chemistry. This paper comprehensively reviews the synthesis, anticancer/antibacterial/antiviral activity, and structure–activity relationships of natural 1,4-naphthoquinones and their derivatives. It highlights their potential as efficient and low-toxicity antitumor and anti-infectious drug candidates.
format Article
id doaj-art-91177c3c559546fd98bd5e6b38dda683
institution OA Journals
issn 1424-8247
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceuticals
spelling doaj-art-91177c3c559546fd98bd5e6b38dda6832025-08-20T01:48:49ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-02-0118335010.3390/ph18030350Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future ProspectsShouyan Xiang0Yubei Li1Shah Nawaz Khan2Weixin Zhang3Gaoyang Yuan4Jiahua Cui5School of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCancer remains a primary cause of mortality, with over 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths globally in 2018. Chemotherapy, which utilizes a spectrum of cytotoxic drugs targeting the rapidly dividing cancer cells, is a predominant treatment modality. However, the tendency of chemotherapeutics to induce drug resistance and exhibit non-specific cytotoxicity necessitates the development of new anticancer agents with heightened efficacy and minimized toxicity. In recent years, the discovery of safe and effective antibacterial/antiviral agents has also been a hot spot in medicinal chemistry. This paper comprehensively reviews the synthesis, anticancer/antibacterial/antiviral activity, and structure–activity relationships of natural 1,4-naphthoquinones and their derivatives. It highlights their potential as efficient and low-toxicity antitumor and anti-infectious drug candidates.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/3/3501,4-naphthoquinonesanticancerantimicrobialantiviralstructure–activity relationshipsnatural products
spellingShingle Shouyan Xiang
Yubei Li
Shah Nawaz Khan
Weixin Zhang
Gaoyang Yuan
Jiahua Cui
Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Pharmaceuticals
1,4-naphthoquinones
anticancer
antimicrobial
antiviral
structure–activity relationships
natural products
title Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
title_full Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
title_fullStr Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
title_full_unstemmed Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
title_short Exploiting the Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Naphthoquinone Derivatives: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
title_sort exploiting the anticancer antimicrobial and antiviral potential of naphthoquinone derivatives recent advances and future prospects
topic 1,4-naphthoquinones
anticancer
antimicrobial
antiviral
structure–activity relationships
natural products
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/3/350
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