Drugs and Their Mode of Action: A Review on Sulfur-Containing Heterocyclic Compounds

Sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds have emerged as an important class of bioactive molecules in drug discovery owing to their diverse pharmacological activities and unique modes of action. Sulfur drugs exert their pharmacological actions primarily through their ability to interfere with microbial growth and modulate immune responses. The provided compounds showed a spectrum of heterocyclic ring structures of varying sizes, from three- to seven-membered rings, each influencing the medicinal potency of the compounds. Smaller rings, such as three- and four-membered rings, often impart unique reactivity and functional properties, potentially leading to potent pharmacological effects. Conversely, larger rings, such as six- and seven-membered rings, may offer increased structural stability and favorable interactions with biological targets, enhancing the medicinal potency of the compounds. Understanding the relationship between ring size and medicinal potency is crucial in drug design to facilitate the development of therapeutics with optimized efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of drugs that contain sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds as key structural motifs, modes of action, and interactions with specific protein targets, enzymes, receptors, and cellular processes. Moreover, we highlight their potential as drug candidates for treating numerous diseases and highlight their significance in drug discovery research.