Inhibition of nitrofurantoin reduction by menthol leads to enhanced antimicrobial activity.
Nitrofurantoin is a nitroaromatic compound used for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Nitrofurantoin activity is regulated by a nitroreduction process. It is first reduced by bacterial nitroreductases to active short-life intermediates, which are further converted to non-toxic molecules, which negatively affect its antibacterial activity. In this study we have shown that resistant strains of Klebsiella sp. inactivate the bactericidal activity of nitrofurantoin. Also we demonstrated a synergistic effect between menthol and nitrofurantoin bactericidal activities against nitrofurantoin susceptible Enterobacteriaceae.
Shahverdi
A R
AR
Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 14174, Tehran, Iran. shahverd@sina.tums.ac.ir
Fazeli
M R
MR
Rafii
F
F
Kakavand
M
M
Jamalifar
H
H
Hamedi
J
J
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008610:Menthol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009582:Nitrofurantoin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009601:Nitroreductases / Q000494:pharmacology
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; D000982:Antipruritics; D008610:Menthol; D009582:Nitrofurantoin; D009601:Nitroreductases