NITROIMIDAZOLE Meaning and
Definition
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Nitroimidazole is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of organic compounds known as imidazoles. It is characterized by having an imidazole ring fused with a nitro group (-NO2). The nitroimidazole compounds often exhibit biological activity, making them widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Nitroimidazoles are commonly employed as antibiotics, antiprotozoal, and antifungal agents. Due to their ability to penetrate cell membranes and target microorganisms, they are particularly effective in treating infections caused by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Their mode of action involves the reduction of the nitro group under hypoxic conditions, leading to the formation of reactive intermediates that damage the microbial DNA, disrupting its replication and ultimately causing cell death.
Moreover, nitroimidazole compounds have shown promise in the treatment of various cancers, particularly in hypoxic tumor environments where conventional therapies often fail. They possess the ability to selectively target and kill cancer cells that thrive in low-oxygen conditions. This targeted approach improves the efficacy of cancer treatment while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
In summary, nitroimidazole is a chemical class consisting of organic compounds containing an imidazole ring fused with a nitro group. Known for their antimicrobial and antifungal properties, they are also being explored for their potential in cancer therapy.
Common Misspellings for NITROIMIDAZOLE
- bitroimidazole
- mitroimidazole
- jitroimidazole
- hitroimidazole
- nutroimidazole
- njtroimidazole
- nktroimidazole
- notroimidazole
- n9troimidazole
- n8troimidazole
- nirroimidazole
- nifroimidazole
- nigroimidazole
- niyroimidazole
- ni6roimidazole
- ni5roimidazole
- niteoimidazole
- nitdoimidazole
- nitfoimidazole
- nittoimidazole
Etymology of NITROIMIDAZOLE
The word "nitroimidazole" is composed of two parts: "nitro-" and "imidazole".
The prefix "nitro-" comes from the Greek word "nitron", meaning "saltpetre" or "niter". In this context, it refers to a chemical group consisting of one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms bonded together (--NO2), known as a nitro group. The term "nitro-" is used in chemistry to indicate the presence of this functional group.
The root word "imidazole" originates from "imidazolium", which is a class of organic compounds. "Imidazole" is formed by combining the word "imid" (from the Greek "imis", meaning "half") and "-azole" (a suffix used to describe organic heterocyclic compounds). Thus, "imidazole" essentially means "half azole".
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