Potentials of Beta-lactam and its Effective use as Anti-cancer and Anti-diabetic Drugs

Interest in β (beta)-lactam antibiotics as a class of drugs was started by the discovery of penicillin and the curiosity increases day by day because of the therapeutic importance of β-lactam drugs. β-lactam is commonly referred to as azetidin-2-one known as the multifunctional building block. In the past years, vast literature was collected, and the chemistry of β-lactam has become a mature field by the continuous effort of the researchers. β-lactam antibiotics are one of the most relevant classes of antibacterial drugs known worldwide. The discovery of the first β-lactam antibiotic (Penicillin G) is a symbolic landmark in modern chemotherapy. No new subclass of β-lactams has been discovered in the last thirty years. While research on β-lactams has declined, studies on β-lactams and their derivatives as potent drugs are still ongoing. In this review, an attempt has been made to discuss the therapeutic use of β-lactam, especially as an anti-cancer and hypoglycaemic agent.