Metronidazole

Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic and antiprotozoal drug used to treat anaerobic bacterial and protozoal infections. It is a prodrug that becomes active only inside susceptible, mainly anaerobic, microorganisms and protozoa, where it is reduced to nitroso free radicals that bind DNA, causing strand breaks and inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. It is widely used for conditions such as trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis, bacterial vaginosis, intra-abdominal infections, and for surgical prophylaxis. Metronidazole is NOT a molecular target but a therapeutic agent, and should not be confused with molecular targets such as receptors or enzymes.

Other names

FlagylMetronidazolMétronidazoleMetronidazolumProtostatAnagiardilGineflavirSatricVarious generic brand names

Reduction within anaerobic microorganisms generates nitroso free radicals. These free radicals induce DNA damage and strand breaks, inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis and leading to cell death.