Mechanism
of action
Metronidazole is a prodrug. Unionized metronidazole
is selective for anaerobic bacteria due to their ability to intracellularly
reduce metronidazole to its active form. This reduced metronidazole then
covalently binds to DNA, disrupt its helical structure, inhibiting bacterial
nucleic acid synthesis and resulting in bacterial cell death.
Reference: Tripathi K.D.,
“Essentials of Medical Pharmacology”, Jaypee brothers medical publishers,
Seventh edition, New Delhi, page no. 657, 658
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