title: Heterocyclic N-Oxides - An Emerging Class of Therapeutic Agents.
abstract: Heterocyclic N-oxides have emerged as potent compounds with anticancer, antibacterial, antihypertensive, antiparasitic, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, herbicidal, neuroprotective, and procognitive activities. The N-oxide motif has been successfully employed in a number of recent drug development projects. This review surveys the emergence of this scaffold in the mainstream medicinal chemistry with a focus on the discovery of the heterocyclic N-oxide drugs, N-oxide-specific mechanisms of action, drug-receptor interactions and synthetic avenues to these compounds. As the first review on this subject that covers the developments since 1950s to date, it is expected that it will inspire wider implementation of the heterocyclic N-oxide motif in the rational design of new medicinal agents.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mfuh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas, United States. oleg.larionov@utsa.edu.
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Larionov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006540:Herbicides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors