Benzimidazole – A Potent Antimicrobial Agent

The use of heterocyclic compounds in field of medicinal chemistry is increasing day by day due to various reasons like heterocyclic compounds are included in the structure of many biochemical materials, which are essential for life. Nucleic acid, many naturally occurring pigments like chlorophyll, vitamins and antibiotics contains heterocyclic nucleus. Modern society is also dependent on synthetic heterocycles for use as drugs, pesticides and dyes. The work embodied in this article relates to benzimidazole as it is a versatile heterocycle which exhibit broad range of biological activities. Benzimidazoles (known as o-phenylenediamine derivatives) are mostly synthesized from o-phenylenediamines. This ring system is present in numerous anti-protozoal, anti-helmintics, anti-HIV, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, and anti-ulcer agents. Several benzimidazoles such as albendazole, mebendazole, flubendazole, fenbendazole, omeprazole, lansoprazole, and clofazone are used in therapy. In this review, various antimicrobial benzimidazoles were summarized & reported. In addition this review highlights the antimicrobialpotency of benzimidazole to medicinal world.