Free radical scavenging properties of pyrimidine derivatives.

Free radicals are well known for playing a dual role in our body- deleterious as well as beneficial. It includes a metabolic pathway for its generation. Oxidative stress in our body occurs due to excessive generation of free radicals and reduced level of antioxidants, but at low concentrations, these radicals help to perform normal physiological functions of the body. Scientific evidence suggests that antioxidants reduce the risk for chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease. This review shows current tendency in the pyrimidine synthesis and reveals the pyrimidine core to be a very potent moiety which can be a rich source for the synthesis of new compounds having desirable antioxidant activity.