Evaluation of Pharmacological and Biological Activities

Natural products, isolated from medicinal plants, have an important role in the discovery of novel compounds for drug development, especially in developing countries. However, in human history medicinal plants may be consumed with little or no evidence of pharmacological properties. Isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) was discovered by Erdmann and Laurent in 1840 as a product of the oxidation of indigo with nitric and chromic acids, it is a synthetically versatile substrate used for the synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic compounds, such as indoles and quinolines, and as a raw material for drug synthesis. It is found in plants of the Isatis genus; Couroupita guianensis Aubl, Calanthe discolor Lindl and also secreted from the parotid gland of Bufo frogs.