A Review on Biological Active Scaffold Isatin and its Derivatives

Isatin (tribulin), chemically 1H-Indole-2,3-dione is an 2,3-dihydroindole derivative with benzene and pyrrolidine bicyclic fused system. Isatin and its schiff bases are employed as building blocks for the synthesis and development of a wide variety of biologically active compounds such as cytotoxic, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-tubercular, anti-malarial, anthelmintic, antiproliferative, antitussive etc. As a versatile molecule, isatin is the major precursor for huge number of heterocyclic derivatives, presenting a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. In present article, a review on synthesis, development and significant biological activities of isatin and its derivatives has been reported considering the important contribution of isatin in development of novel drugs.