Chemical degradation of penicillins involves various reactions that can occur under different conditions, leading to the loss of their pharmacological activity. 1. Acid Hydrolysis: Mechanism: Penicillins are susceptible to acid hydrolysis, where the β-lactam ring is opened, leading to inactive degradation products. Conditions: Acid hydrolysis occurs in acidic environments, such as the stomach or acidic … Read more
Penicillin, the most important antibiotic, was first extracted from the mould Penicillium notatum. Subsequently, a mutant of a related mould, P. chrysogenum, was found to give the highest yield of penicillin and is employed for the commercial production of this antibiotic. Penicillin belongs to a group of antibiotics called β-lactam antibiotics. The basic structure of … Read more
Beta-lactam antibiotics are a class of antibiotics characterized by the presence of a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structure. This ring is crucial for its antibacterial activity as it interferes with the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, ultimately leading to bacterial cell death. Beta-lactam antibiotics are generally well-tolerated but can cause allergic reactions in some … Read more
INTRODUCTION Antibiotics, also known as antimicrobial agents, are medications that destroy or slow down the growth of other species of microorganisms. They include a range of powerful drugs used to treat diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, etc. Or The term antibiotic originates in the word antibiosis (i.e. against life). Antibiotics are chemical substances obtained … Read more
