Natural products, with their various sources from plants, marine organisms, and
microorganisms, are considered a key source and inspiration for medicines and continue to
be so. Indole alkaloids are a class of alkaloids and represent a large subunit of natural products.
Indole alkaloids of biological importance are numerous and cover a wide range of pharmaceutical
applications, including anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,
and antioxidant. Obtaining natural, biologically active indole compounds involves isolating
them from their natural sources or preparing them synthetically. 3-Substituted indoles represent
an emerging structural class of marine alkaloids based on their high degree of biological
activity. 3-Acetyl indole is an important core used as a starting material for synthesizing
many bioactive indole alkaloids. (5-Indole)oxazole alkaloids, β-carboline alkaloids, bis-indole
alkaloids, chuangxinmycin, meridianine, and (±) indolemycin are the most important
indole alkaloids that are prepared starting from 3-acety indole. The present review provides
comprehensive information on the structures and the synthesis of bioactive indole alkaloids
utilizing 3-acetyl indole and its derivatives as starting compounds. Additionally, it also spotlights
the diverse biological activities of these compounds.