Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

This research examines the classification and biochemical characteristics of β-lactams and their derivatives, including, penem, clavam, carbapenem, cephem, carbacephem, cepham, and monobactams. β-lactams are four-membered heterocyclic compounds, including three carbon atoms, one nitrogen atom, and a carbonyl group, also called 2-azetidinones. These chemicals demonstrate considerable biological action. β-lactams can be sourced naturally, through biosynthesis by particular bacteria, or synthetically through diverse chemical processes. The Staudinger ketene-imine reaction is among the most prevalent synthetic methodologies. This article examines the biological action of β-lactam derivatives, including Penicillins, cephalosporins, and other antibiotics, which impede bacterial cell wall formation by targeting transpeptidase and transglycosylase enzymes. Moreover, it emphasizes the utilization of freshly generated β-lactams in cancer treatment, wherein they exhibit genotoxic effects by inducing DNA fragmentation and limiting protein synthesis. MCF-7 and MCF-9 are two of the cancer cells lines that these substances have demonstrated effectiveness against.