A Comprehensive Review of the Biological Activities of Medicinal Metal Complexes Synthesized From Quinoline Scaffolds

The compelling attributes of quinoline scaffolds in medicinal compounds have garnered considerable attention from researchers, due to their notable biological efficacy, biocompatibility, and distinctive photophysical properties. Quinoline complexes, in particular, have emerged as significant entities, demonstrating a wide array of medicinal properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anthelmintic, anti-HIV, antioxidant, antituberculosis, and antimalarial activities. In addition, they showed promise in photodynamic and neurological studies, along with strong DNA-binding capabilities. In recent years (2010-2023), substantial progress has been made in understanding quinoline complexes. Key aspects such as the lipophilicity, of metal complexes, enzymatic drug degradation factors influencing inhibition, drug performance, disruption of target cell growth, and their impact on DNA have been thoroughly investigated. Researchers have employed advanced methodologies including fluorescent imaging, determination of MIC and IC₅₀ values, hydrodynamic and spectrophotometric techniques, in silico and in vitro studies, and cytotoxicity assessments using the MTT method, to significantly enhance our understanding of these complexes. Recent findings indicated that the interaction of quinoline complexes with viral proteins and their ability to disrupt enzyme-viral DNA relationships have made them powerful therapeutic agents for severe diseases including cancer, AIDS, and coronaviruses, as well as various neurological and microbial infections. It is anticipated that these explorations will lead to effective advancements in therapeutic strategies within modern medicine.