Schiff bases and their metal complexes as urease inhibitors – A brief review

Abstract

Schiff bases, an aldehyde- or ketone-like compounds in which the carbonyl group is replaced by an imine or azomethine, are some of the most widely used organic compounds. Indeed, they are widely used for industrial purposes and also exhibit a broad range of biological activities, including anti-urease activity. Ureases, enzymes that catalyze urea hydrolysis, have received considerable attention for their impact on living organisms’ health, since the persistence of urease activity in human and animal cells can be the cause of some diseases and pathogen infections. This short review compiles examples of the most antiurease Schiff bases (0.23 μM < IC50 < 37.00 μM) and their metal complexes (0.03 μM < IC50 < 100 μM). Emphasis is given to ureases of Helicobacter pylori and Canavalia ensiformis, although the active site of this class of hydrolases is conserved among living organisms.