A comprehensive review on indole-chalcone hybrid as promising scaffold with diverse therapeutic potential

Indole-chalcone hybrids have emerged as a highly promising class of compounds in modern medicinal chemistry, owing to their unique dual pharmacophore structure that integrates the bioactive indole and chalcone units. Recent studies have highlighted these hybrids' diverse and potent pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiviral, and neuroprotective effects. The combination of the indole ring and chalcone scaffold, achieved through molecular hybridization, facilitates a synergistic mechanism of action, enabling these hybrids to modulate multiple biological pathways and thereby enhance their therapeutic potential. This review focuses on indole-chalcone hybrids' structure-activity relationship (SAR) to identify the key molecular determinants that contribute to their bioactivity. Furthermore, the multifunctional nature of these hybrids is discussed, offering promising prospects for developing novel, more effective therapeutic agents with optimized efficacy and reduced toxicity. By consolidating current findings, this review aims to provide a comprehensive resource to guide future research efforts and facilitate the continued exploration of indole-chalcone hybrids as versatile scaffolds in drug discovery.