A REVIEW ON NAPHTHOQUINONE DERIVATIVES AS POTENTIAL ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS

Naphthoquinones are common phenolic substances found in nature. They are by products of secondary metabolism in high plants as well as bacterial and fungal processes. The three substances that are most common are juglone, lawsone, and plumbagin. In addition to being cytotoxic, naphthoquinones also exhibit substantial antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. Numerous 1,4-naphthoquinones have been isolated from natural resources over the past few decades, and numerous derivatives of naphthoquinones with various structural motifs have been synthesised and tested for antimicrobial activity. Researchers are looking for new naphthoquinone derivatives with promise for clinical efficacy in an effort to find alternative effective therapeutic molecules without severe side effects..

Keywords: Naphthoquinone, Antimicrobials