Nitrofurans are a class of drugs typically used as

antibiotic An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...

s or

antimicrobial An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals ar ...

s. The defining structural component is a

furan Furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Chemical compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans. Furan is a colorless, flammable, highly ...

ring with a

nitro group In organic chemistry, nitro compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more nitro functional groups (). The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores (functional group that makes a compound explosive) used globally. The nitr ...

Drugs

Members of this class of drugs include: * Antibacterials (antibiotics) ** Difurazone (also known as Nitrovin) — an antibacterial growth promoter used in the animal feeds **

Furazolidone Furazolidone is a nitrofuran antibacterial agent and monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). It is marketed by Roberts Laboratories under the brand name Furoxone and by GlaxoSmithKline as Dependal-M. Medical uses Furazolidone has been used in human ...

** Nifurfoline **

Nifuroxazide Nifuroxazide ( INN) is an oral nitrofuran antibiotic, patented since 1966 and used to treat colitis and diarrhea in humans and non-humans. It is sold under the brand names Ambatrol, Antinal, Bacifurane, Diafuryl (Turkey), Benol (Pakistan), Pérab ...

Nifurquinazol Nifurquinazol (NF-1088) is an antibacterial agent of the nitrofuran Nitrofurans are a class of drugs typically used as antibiotics or antimicrobials. The defining structural component is a furan ring with a nitro group. Drugs Members of thi ...

Nifurtoinol Nifurtoinol (rINN, trade name Urfadyn) is a nitrofuran-derivative antibiotic used in the treatment of urinary tract infection A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects part of the urinary tract. When it affects the lowe ...

Nifurzide Nifurzide is a nitrofuran derivative and intestinal anti-infectious agent active against ''Escherichia coli ''Escherichia coli'' (),Wells, J. C. (2000) Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Harlow ngland Pearson Education Ltd. also known as '' ...

Nitrofural Nitrofurazone (INN, trade name Furacin) is an antimicrobial organic compound belonging to the nitrofuran class. It is most commonly used as a topical antibiotic ointment. It is effective against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, a ...

(also known as nitrofurazone) **

Nitrofurantoin Nitrofurantoin is an antibacterial medication used to treat urinary tract infections, but it is not as effective for kidney infections. It is taken by mouth. Common side effects include nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and headaches. Rarely ...

— a drug used to treat urinary tract infections **

Ranbezolid Ranbezolid (RBx7644) is an oxazolidinone antibacterial An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic med ...

— technically an oxazolidinone antibiotic bearing a nitrofuran group * Antimicrobials ** Furaltadone — an antiprotozoal ** Furazidine — an antibacterial and antiprotozoal *** Furaginum — an antibacterial **

Furylfuramide Furylfuramide (also known as AF-2) is a synthetic nitrofuran derivative which was widely used as a food preservative in Japan since at least 1965, but withdrawn from the market in 1974 when it was observed to be mutagenic to bacteria ''in vitro' ...

— a formerly used food preservative **

Nifuratel Nifuratel (brand name Macmiror, or — in combination with nystatin, — Macmiror Complex) is a drug used in gynecology. It is a local antiprotozoal and antifungal agent that may also be given orally. Nifuratel is not approved for use in the Unit ...

— an antiprotozoal and antifungal **

Nifurtimox Nifurtimox, sold under the brand name Lampit, is a medication used to treat Chagas disease and sleeping sickness. For sleeping sickness it is used together with eflornithine in nifurtimox-eflornithine combination treatment. In Chagas disease it ...

— an antiprotozoal * FANFT, a potent nitrofuran derivative tumor initiator. It causes bladder tumors in all animals studied and is mutagenic to many bacteria.

Regulation

The European Union has banned the use of Nitrofurans in food-producing animals. In the 2000s, a number of meat imports were destroyed after nitrofurans were found, including chicken imported from Portugal, and chicken imported from Thailand and Brazil.

References

External links

* {{Antiprotozoal agent