Synthetic heterocyclic derivatives as promising xanthine oxidase inhibitors: An overview.

Inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO) is an effective and most prominent therapeutic approach for the management of gout. Discovery of its association in the pathophysiology of diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, etc., widened its therapeutic horizons. Limited drug candidates in clinical practice along with side effects forced researchers to develop more efficacious and safer XO inhibitors for the management of gout and other disorders associated with XO hyperactivity. In this regard, this review focus on (a) various drug candidates in clinical practice and under clinical trials, (b) Development of various heterocyclic motifs as XO inhibitors in last two decades and (c) various patented synthetic XO inhibitors.