Benzofuran derivatives and their anti-tubercular, anti-bacterial activities

Benzofuran is a fundamental structural unit in a variety of biologically active natural products, and its derivatives display various biological properties. Some benzofuran derivatives possess unique anti-tubercular and anti-bacterial action mechanism, and exhibit excellent in vitro and in vivo activities against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pathogens. Moreover, several benzofuran derivatives have already used in clinics for the treatment of various diseases. Thus, benzofuran is a useful pharmacophore to develop new anti-tubercular and anti-bacterial drugs. This review covers the recent advances of benzofuran derivatives as potential anti-tubercular and anti-bacterial agents, and the structure-activity relationship is also discussed to pave the way for the further rational development of this kind of derivatives. Benzofuran derivatives possess a broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic properties, and some of benzofuran-based compounds have already used in clinics for the treatment of various diseases, so benzofuran derivatives occupy an important position in the development of new drugs. This review covers the recent advances of benzofuran derivatives as potential anti-tubercular and anti-bacterial agents. The structure-activity relationship is also discussed to pave the way for the further rational development of this kind of derivatives. [Display omitted] •Some benzofuran derivatives exhibited excellent in vitro and in vivo activities against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pathogens.•This review covers the recent advances of benzofuran derivatives as potential anti-TB and anti-bacterial agents.•The structure-activity relationship was discussed to pave the way for the further rational design.