Ornidazole

Description

Ornidazole is an orally bioavailable 5-nitroimidazole derivative with antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. Ornidazole inhibits the growth of clinical isolates of B. fragilis (MICs = 0.5-5 μM) and various anaerobic bacteria when used at concentrations ranging from less than 0.1 to 3.2 μg/ml. It also inhibits the growth of Giardia isolates (IC₅₀s = 0.01-0.47 μg/ml). Oral administration of ornidazole reduces T. vaginalis and T. foetus infection in mice and E. histolytica infection in rats with curative dose (CD₅₀) values of 37, 3, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Ornidazole (400 mg/kg per day) induces infertility in male rats within 7 days and inhibits spermatozoa binding to rat oocyte zona pellucida.

Manufacturing Process

5g of 1-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole was added to 30 ml of concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid. The solution was heated to the boiling point for 20 minutes, chilled, diluted with 30 ml of water and carefully neutralized with ammonia to a pH of 7 to 8. It was then saturated with ammonium sulfate. The precipitated oil crystallized after several days. Recrystallized from toluene, there was obtained the 1-(3-chloro-2hydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole product melting at 77°C to 78°C.

Safety Profile

Poison by intravenous route. Moderately toxic by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Experimental reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. Whenheated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of Clí and NOx.

The Uses of Ornidazole

Ornidazole belongs to a class of antibacterial medications called 'nitroimidazoles' primarily used to treat infections caused by protozoans & bacteria. It is used to treat amoebiasis, chlamydiosis, giardia infection, trichomonas infection, vaginal, urinary tract, intestinal and post-operative infections. Ornidazole works by damaging the DNA of the infection-causing agent and inhibiting their growth. Thereby treats infections.