Syntheses and Pharmacological Applications of Chalcones : A Review

Chalcones are pharmacologically active compounds, chemically known as derivatives of 1,3- diphenylprop-2-en-1-one. They have found applications as anticancer, anti-diabetics, anti-HIV, antioxidants, antimalarial, anti-tubercular, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antidiuretic agents. Some chalcones have been reported as inhibitors of lipoxygenase, β-secretase (BACE1), acylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), cyclooxygenase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and Yersinia enterocolitica tyrosine phosphate. The syntheses of various classes of chalcones and their mode of pharmacological applications have been reviewed. The broad pharmacological applications of chalcones, the ease of synthesis and the increased resistance of available chemotherapeutic agent informed this review.