ABSTRACT:
The quinolones developed over the past few years have greater potency, a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity that have a novel mechanism of action. As synthetic compounds, these agents have been developed extensively to optimize antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetic properties, and drug safety. Although earlier quinolones were effective only in the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts and only had activity against aerobic gram-negative bacteria, newer quinolones have wider potential applications and a broader spectrum of activity. Recently some of the newer quinolones such as sparfloxacin, enoxacin, moxifloxacin have been reported concerning the cytotoxic effects on transitional cell carcinoma of bladder, colorectal carcinoma, prostate cancer cell and also active against mycobacterium tuberculosis. This article reviews the history, generation, mechanism of action and discusses quinolone pharmacophore and functional domain for guideline to synthesize novel quinolones with improved therapeutic activities. This article also highlights different therapeutic activities such as antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-mycobacterial, anti-tumor and anti- inflammatory activities of existing and new quinolones.