Furazolidone

Inquiry

Cat Number

API0231569

CAS Number

67-45-8

If you have any other questions, please contact our experts.

Product Detail Description Scientific Support Customer Q&A

CAS Number

67-45-8

EINECS

200-653-3

Storage

Store at 2-8℃

Synonyms

Furoxone; Nitrofurazolidone; Furazolidine; Nitrofuroxon; Diafuron; Neftin; Furaxone; Furazolidon

Molecular Formula

C8H7N3O5

Molecular Weight

225.16

Smiles

C1COC(=O)N1/N=C/C2=CC=C(O2)[N+](=O)[O-]

Appearance

Light yellow crystalline powder

Melting Point

254-256℃

Boiling Point

353.4℃

Relative Density

1.66

General Description

Furazolidone is a nitrofuran derivative that exhibits both antiprotozoal and antibacterial activity. It is a small molecule drug that binds to bacterial DNA, which leads to the gradual inhibition of monoamine oxidase. The drug is rapidly and extensively metabolized, primarily via nitro-reduction to an aminofuran derivative.

Mechanism of Action

Furazolidone and its related free radical products are believed to bind to bacterial DNA and induce cross-links. Bacterial DNA is particularly susceptible to this drug, leading to high levels of mutations in the bacterial chromosome. The resulting DNA damage disrupts bacterial replication and leads to cell death, which underlies its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Application

It has been used for the specific and symptomatic treatment of bacterial or protozoal diarrhea and enteritis caused by susceptible organisms. Clinical applications have included the treatment of giardiasis, amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, and bacterial colitis.

Pretreatment with the antimicrobial agent furazolidone (FZD) significantly improved survival in lethally irradiated mice, reduced bone marrow micronuclei, raised leukocyte counts and immune organ indices, and preserved intestinal integrity. TUNEL and western blot analyses showed that FZD protected intestinal tissue and IEC‑6 cells from radiation‑induced cell death by suppressing both apoptosis and autophagy. These findings demonstrate that FZD acts as a dual inhibitor of apoptosis and autophagy, offering a potential low‑toxicity radioprotective countermeasure against total body irradiation injury.

Fig. 1 Protective effect of FZD in IR-induced cell death in IEC-6 cells. (Ma S, et al., 2021)

References

Ma S, et al. Furazolidone Increases Survival of Mice Exposed to Lethal Total Body Irradiation through the Antiapoptosis and Antiautophagy Mechanism. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021;2021:6610726.

Does Furazolidone require protection from light, and what happens upon exposure?

Yes, it is highly photosensitive. Light exposure causes rapid discoloration (yellow to dark brown) and degradation. Store in opaque, light-resistant containers.

What is the recommended storage temperature for Furazolidone?

Store at 2-8°C (refrigerated) for long-term stability. At room temperature, it slowly degrades, losing antimicrobial activity and forming potentially toxic byproducts.

Is Furazolidone sensitive to moisture, and how is this prevented?

It is slightly hygroscopic but can hydrolyze under extreme conditions. Our packaging includes moisture-barrier foil bags with desiccant to maintain integrity.

How is the impurity 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (a potential genotoxic impurity) controlled?

We use a validated LC-MS/MS method to monitor this degradation product, ensuring levels remain below the threshold of toxicological concern.