title: Coumarin derivatives: an updated patent review (2012-2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coumarins belong to the benzopyrones family. They are naturally plant-derived and synthetically taken polyphenolic substances, presenting a wide variety of biological activities and behaviours, supporting their use as therapeutic agents for multiple diseases. Their structural characteristics correlated to physicochemical properties seem to define the extent of the biological activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent patent publications (2012-2014), describing coumarins and their derivatives are analyzed. Synthesis, hybridization techniques and biological evaluation in vitro/in vivo, for example, antimitotic, antiviral, anticancer, cytotoxic, anti-acne and antioxidant coumarin macromolecule polymer agents are included. Furthermore, a wide range of pharmaceutical applications and pharmaceutical compositions are also summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several natural and synthetic coumarins, hybrids and derivatives appear to have promising anticancer-antitumor activities. Their clinical evaluation will be critical to assess therapeutic utility. The compounds for which the mechanism of action is well defined can serve as lead compounds for the design of new more potent molecules.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Science , Thessaloniki 54124 , Greece.
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Katsori
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadjipavlou-Litina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003374:Coumarins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010330:Patents as Topic; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003374:Coumarins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
keywords: anti-Alzheimer; anticancer; antimicrobial; antioxidant; antiviral; coumarin; cytotoxicity