EXPLORING UTILITY OF PYRAZINE-BASED HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS IN ANTICANCER DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is witnessing a rising global incidence, affecting a predominant proportion of the populace. In response, ongoing endeavors are underway to develop novel anticancer pharmaceuticals, with their safety profiles currently undergoing evaluation. Among these, pyrazine-based medications constitute a significant contribution, representing a pivotal pharmacophore prevalent in both synthetic and natural heterocyclic compounds. Characterized by a six-membered aromatic heterocycle with two nitrogen atoms, pyrazine exhibits versatile therapeutic applications in drug development, offering myriad prospects for the refinement of future anticancer agents through targeted interactions with pivotal receptors. Pyrazine compounds, through their inherent structural attributes, have demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting enzymes, receptors, and various other targets implicated in cancer pathogenesis. Contemporary research endeavors are centered on the synthesis of novel pyrazine derivatives tailored for cancer treatment, often in combination with other molecular moieties. Consequently, this review expounds upon the recent therapeutic advancements in pyrazine-based drugs, providing insights into their synthetic pathways, marketed drugs elucidating their primary targets, and a compendium of recently patented and published research papers. This collective information serves as a valuable resource for scientists engaged in the formulation of efficacious medications endowed with the requisite pharmacological activity. [Article No. 183] doi:10.21276/bpr.2024.14.1.3