Salicylanilides and Their Derivates as Perspective Anti-tuberculosis Drugs: Synthetic Routes and Biological Evaluations

Abstract: Salicylanilides are a well-known family of pharmacological compounds, which are under renewed investigation because of the discovery of novel interesting biological activities and mechanisms of action over the last decade. This comprehensive mini-review de-scribes the biological and pharmacological properties of salicylanilides, their activity against atypical and multi-drug resist ant mycobacte-rial strains, and synthetic routes for their preparation. In particular, this review focuses on the synthesis and biological properties of sali-cylanilides and O -substituted derivates reported between 2000 and 2010, which have displayed the highest antituberculosis or antifungal activity. Keywords: Anti-MDR tuberculotics, anti-tuberculotic agents, hydroxybenzamides, salicylan ilides, salicylanilide derivates. 1. INTRODUCTION Salicylanilides ( N -substituted hydroxy benzamides) are well-known organic pharmacological compounds with numerous bio-logical activities, which were initially investigated for their antimi-crobial [1] and antifungal activities [2], as well as their usefulness as topical antimycotics and antiplaque agents [3]. Salicylanilides have also found use as molluscicidal [4] or anthelmintic agents [5] in human and veterinary practise. The most successful of these, 5,2´-dichloro-4´-nitrosalicylanilide (Niclosamide), is a member of a group of common molluscicides [6] with anthelmintic properties, and is also effective in the treatment of diphyllobothriasis and hy-menolepiasis [7]. Closantel is another broad-spectrum anthelmintic salicylanilide, which has been used as an anti-trematode, anti-nematode and anti-arthropod, in combination with benzimidazole anthelmintics such as Mebendazole [8]. Rafoxanide is highly active against