Indole: A Privileged Heterocyclic Moiety in the Management of Cancer

Heterocyclic are a class of compounds that are intricately entwined into life processes. Almost more than 90% of marketed drugs carry heterocycles. Synthetic chemistry, in turn, allocates a cornucopia of heterocycles. Among the heterocycles, indole, a bicyclic structure consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered pyrrole ring with numerous pharmacophores that generate a library of various lead molecules. Due to its profound pharmacological profile, indole got wider attention around the globe to explore it fully in the interest of mankind. The current review covers recent advancements on indole in the design of various anti-cancer agents acting by targeting various enzymes or receptors, including (HDACs), sirtuins, PIM kinases, DNA topoisomerases, and σ receptors.