Exploring the Efficacy of Metal Complexes of Coumarin Derivative: Open New Avenues for Discovery of Noval Therapeutic Agents

Abstract

Coumarins are fused six-membered oxygen-containing
benzoheterocyclic compounds consisting of an α-pyrone
and a benzene ring. Coumarins and their derivatives
exhibit a range of biological activities, including antiallergic,
insecticidal, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial effects.
Hydroxycoumarins, as typical phenolic compounds, act as
potent metal chelators and free radical scavengers. The metal
complexes of coumarins have attracted significant attention
from synthetic chemists, medicinal scientists, and pharmacists
due to their broad biological applications. These coumarinderived
metal complexes demonstrate various therapeutic
properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer,
antioxidant, anthelmintic, pesticidal, and nematocidal activities.
This review highlights recent synthetic methodologies and the
known bioactivities of coumarin–metal complexes, emphasizing
their potential as promising scaffolds for the development of
novel therapeutic agents.