A fruitful decade from 2005 to 2014 for anthraquinone patents

Abstract

Introduction: Anthraquinones are aromatic compounds whose structures are related to anthracene (parent structure: 9,10-dioxoanthracene) for which various methods for their synthesis have been developed. In the past decade (2005 – 2014), much work has been done regarding anthraquinone chemistry in order to discover new compounds related to this scaffold as anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiviral, anti-HCV, antifibrotic, fungicidal and anti-inflammatory agents.

Areas covered: This review covers the patents on therapeutic activities of anthraquinones and their derivatives in the years between 2005 and 2014. A large portion of the therapeutic applications that were reported in international patents will be presented and discussed. Although a large number of patents have been registered over the last decade, this review is focused on important patents related to cancer, inflammation, infectious diseases, diabetic conditions and hepatitis C.

Expert opinion: The tricyclic planar ring system of anthraquinones displays a wide range of important pharmaceutical properties. By linking active anthraquinone analogs to other important pharmacophores or conjugates such as oximes, N-heterocycles, benzodiazepines or glycosyl ethers, their anticancer potential is enhanced. The ability of anthraquinone analogs to become more prominent as novel pharmaceutical agents may further be enhanced by fusing functionalized heterocyclic rings onto established anthraquinone cores.

Keywords:

• anthraquinone
• antibacterial
• anticancer
• antidiabetic
• antifibrotic
• anti-HCV
• anti-inflammatory
• antiviral
• apoptosis
• fungicidal

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Notes

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