Salicylic Acid: Synthetic Strategies and Their Biological Activities

Abstract Phenolic acids are the phytochemicals formthe key part of the organic chemistry and are widely found in the plants, plant foods and human metabolites possessing a wide range of biological activities like anti‐oxidant, anti‐bacterial, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐carcinogenic activities. Owing to their pharmaceutical activities, they are known for their different roles in prevention of various diseases in plants and as well as humans. Although a number of biologically active compounds are known in literature but unfortunately due to their cost, non‐availability and toxicity, there is an urgent need to develop such bioactive agents which can overcome all the shortcomings of reported agents. Salicylic acid is one of the hydroxybenzoic acid that is well known for possessing antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer,anti‐tumor, anti‐proliferative, anti‐viral and analgesic properties. This review mainly outlines the synthesis and biological activities of various salicylic acid derivatives which provides guidance to the researchers working in this field for improving their activity by modification of already reported drugs.