Nitro-Imidazole Derivatives An Unique Class for Diverse Biological Activity: A Review

Imidazole is one of the important heterocyclic compound in the aromatic world of medicinal chemistry. It is also a important constituent of several natural products including purine, histidine and nuclic acid. But substitution of nitro group in the imidazole or the nitroimidazole enhances the solubility and bioavailability parameter of proposed poorly soluble lead molecule. The application of these nitroimidazole containing drugs has widened in various simple and complex diseases. Nitroimidazole derivative are widely used as the anaerobic anti bacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal, anti HIV agents, radiosensitizers, hypoxic marker etc. Substitution of the nitro group on the different position (2,4,5) of imidazole show same physical properties but their derivative show variable pharmacological activity. The present review is concerned with the comparative work reported, their chemistry and biological activities of 2-nitroimidazole, 4nitroimidazole and 5-nitroimidazole derivatives during the past years.