Structural perspective into thiazoles and other azole derivatives as anthelmintic agents

Helminths or worm-like parasites are common infectious pathogens that cause significant diseases and mortality in animals and humans. To be noted, nematodes or soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have been infected about 1.5 billion people according to the recent reports of world health organization (WHO). Helminths-based infections are a significant type of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that show higher occurrence in deprived regions of tropical and subtropical areas. Low-level sanitation and limited facilities increase the risk of affliction with these infectious diseases. Helminths infections are known to be associated with non-significant symptoms to heavier ones such as gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations, weakness, impaired growth, disturbed physical development and death on the basis of involved worm population. Despite the implementations of preventive and mass-treatment strategies, incomplete curative effects and drug-resistance potentiality inspires the discovery of new and potent anthelmintic agents. In this context, several efforts have been focused on the synthesis and biological evaluation of various heterocycles, and in particular azoles, as anthelmintic agents. Structural elucidations of the emerged anti-infective agents from the medicinal chemistry perspective is a rational way to tackle the burden of infections throughout development of new anthelmintic medications. In continuation to our previous contributions, privileged azole-based anthelmintic compounds that have been documented in the 2012-2023 period and their structure activity relationship (SAR), are going to be reviewed in this study.