An overview of the anti-HIV potential of thiazolidinone derivatives

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), an immunosuppressive, life-threatening condition that frequently results in other potentially fatal opportunistic infections in affected patients. Despite advancements in anti-retroviral therapy, AIDS remains the main reason for worldwide mortality. Although various anti-HIV drugs have profoundly enhanced the quality of life for AIDS patients, some patients develop resistance to the drugs, and the long-term anti-HIV treatments, and their adverse effects, prevail as major therapeutic failure causes. Therefore, concerted efforts by the scientific community are crucial to identifying new candidates for anti-HIV therapies. In this respect, the thiazolidinone moiety has acquired prominence in drug discovery and development due to its antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. This moiety also demonstrated significant anti-HIV activity as a core heterocycle or derivative of substituted heterocycles. To expedite the synthesis of more novel anti-HIV drugs containing a thiazolidinone nucleus, we compiled a list of thiazolidinone-containing previously documented anti-HIV compounds. We hope that this could serve as a guide for future researchers in their design of effective thiazolidine-containing compounds showing anti-HIV activity.