Abstract
Chalcone derivatives are considered valuable species
because they
possess a ketoethylenic moiety, CO–CH=CH–. Due
to the presence of a reactive α,β-unsaturated carbonyl
group, chalcones and their derivatives possess a wide spectrum of
antiproliferative, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antileishmanial,
and antimalarial pharmacological properties. Recent developments in
heterocyclic chemistry have led to the synthesis of chalcone derivatives,
which had been biologically investigated toward certain disease targets.
The major aspect of this review is to present the most recent synthesis
of chalcones bearing N, O, and/or S heterocycles, revealing their
biological potential during the past decade (2010–2021). Based
on a review of the literature, many chalcone–heterocycle hybrids
appear to exhibit promise as future drug candidates owing to their
similar or superior activities compared to those of the standards.
Thus, this review may prove to be beneficial for the development and
design of new potent therapeutic drugs based on previously developed
strategies.