Anticancer Activities of Thiosemicarbazides/Thiosemicarbazones: A Review

Abstract

There have been tremendous development in the chemotherapy of cancer and researches are still developing new and more effective drugs to combat this disease. Thiosemicarbazides and thiosemicarbazone possess a wide range of biological applications. This key biological role is often related with their capability to inhibit the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase, similar to what is observed with potent anticancer drugs such as triapine and methisazone. Recent studies have revealed that thiosemicarbazones can inhibit topoisomerase II enzyme. This review discusses current advances of an emerging ‘new wave’ of thiosemicarbazide/thiosemicarbazone and their metal complexes as potent anticancer agents, mode of action and toxicity caused by them.