Antimicrobial activity of isoxazole derivatives: A brief overview

Abstract Due to their extensive range of biological actions, isoxazole and its analogues stand out among other heterocyclic compounds as a very important class of heterocycles. Over recent years, there has been a growing demand for these heterocyclic nuclei as crucial synthetic intermediates, contributing significantly to the advancement of newly formed chemical entities in the fields of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. Furthermore, the significance of N and O‐containing heterocycles from medicinal perspective arises from their inherent ability to readily bind with biological systems, including various enzymes and receptors, through many non‐covalent interactions. The antimicrobial potential of isoxazole compounds has been extensively studied against broad range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, etc. From a research perspective, isoxazoles exhibit antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, analgesic, anti‐inflammatory, and central nervous system activities. It also exhibits inhibitory, glutamate transporter, and anti‐hypertensive properties, which are similar to GABA (γ‐aminobutyric acid). The current review explores the antimicrobial properties and structure‐activity relationship of different isoxazole derivatives relative to their antimicrobial efficacy. Furthermore, it seeks to highlight the potential applications and future directions in the development of isoxazole‐based antimicrobial agents.