Antimicrobial Properties of Benzimidazole and Mannich Bases of Benzimidazole: A Review

The chemistry of heterocyclic compounds have shown enormous pharmacological properties and consequently many drugs, all used clinically, having main heterocyclic scaffold. Benzimidazole is one such nucleus. Benzimidazole based drugs are used as Antithelminitic, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Anticancer, Antihistaminic and Psychopharmacological agent. Studies reflect that the Benzimidazole based derivatives can act as antimicrobial agent. Moreover, Mannich base derivatives of Benzimidazole are reported as better antimicrobial drugs with lower cytotoxicity. This review highlights the importance of antimicrobial properties of Benzimidazole and its Mannich base derivatives.