Abstract: Coumarins are naturally derived compounds fused benzene and α-pyrone rings which are found in large range of plant sources.Recently,several studies have been conducted on the biological activity of coumarins,such as anticancers,anti-inflammatory,anticoagulants,antibacterial and antifungals.In this study,the advances on the antibacterial activity of coumarins were summarized.The main target in medicine is Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,β-hemolytic streptococcus,Haemophilus infuenzae and Vibrio cholera,etc.,in the agricultural areas are concentrated in Ralstonia solanacearum, Phytophthora capsici,Powdery mildew,Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium graminearum,etc.Indeed,the structure-activity relationship and mechanism action of coumarins were analyzed.Coumarins have multiple substitution sites and can used as a kind of lead compound to synthesize more effective coumarin derivatives with widely application values.

Key words: coumarins, antibacterial activity, structure-activity relationship, mechanism action