Benzothiazoles - scaffold of interest for CNS targeted drugs

Benzothiazole compounds represent heterocyclic systems comprising a benzene ring fused with a thiazole ring containing nitrogen and sulphur in its structure. Besides the presence of a benzothiazole core in naturally occurring molecules, synthesized compounds containing a benzothiazole moiety in their structure proved to be a significant class of potential therapeutics, as they exhibit biological effects such as antitumor, antibacterial, antitubercular, antiviral, anthelmintic, antidiabetic and many others. Apart from the aforementioned peripheral or microbial active sites, benzothiazole analogues are also biologically active compounds in the central nervous system, where some approved drugs containing a benzothiazole moiety have already been identified and are used in the treatment of various neurological disorders. New benzothiazole molecules are currently under development and are being evaluated for several uses including diagnostics and as therapeutic drug candidates for the treatment of epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis amongst others.