**4. Recent applications of coumarin based derivatives**

Both natural and synthesized coumarins have received a lot of interest recently due to their various biological and pharmacological characteristics, which expand their industrial potential (**Table 1**). The usage of coumarins in the creation of biochemical probes has also significantly grown as a result of their photosensitizing and fluorescent capabilities. Umbelliferone, esculetin, and quercetin are coumarins that have anti-oxidant effects and defend against oxidative damage to cellular DNA [89, 90]. Esculetin has been reported best for protecting cells from oxidative damages [91]. By preventing vitamin K from working, the dicumarol exhibits anti-coagulant qualities, whereas angelmarin has been utilized for pancreatic cancer. Sakaguchi and co-workers reported numerous derivatives of coumarin, including 7,7-dihydroxy-coumarins and others, which are known to have anti-oxidant effects. Free radical production results in oxidative damage to DNA, which activates p53. Recently, in 2017 and 2018, Sahu [92] and co-workers and Witaicenis [93] and coworkers respectively, reported the antioxidant property of 4-methylesculetin.

**Figure 36.**

*Recent Methods for Synthesis of Coumarin Derivatives and Their New Applications DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108563*


**Table 1.**

*Coumarin derivatives and their activities.*

Coumarin structures like Cloricromene, Warfarin shows good anti-cancer activity and there are being used in the treatment of cancer. Vipirinin, a derivative of coumarin has is used to suppress the Vpr-depended gene (viral) and thus acts as an antagonist [94]. Osthol, a coumarin is well known for its antioxidant property which prevents acetaminophen activation as well as functions in the regulation of the concentration of free calcium that exists in the intracellular space [95]. Coumarins' photosensitivity is beneficial for

**Figure 38.** *Coumarin derivatives and their applications.*

detecting the activation of particular enzymes as well as bio-molecules including DNA, protein, as well as lipids [96]. Also, they have been utilized in the area of pharmacology to analyze the potency of various drug molecules. Furanocoumarins acts as potent photosensitizing agents by killing bacteria and inactivating virus in a conjugated reaction with Ultraviolet light (**Figure 38**) [13].
