Abstract

A REVIEW: BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SULFONAMIDES

Lakhwinder Kaur*, Varun Arora, Pragi Arora, Manjinder Pal Singh

ABSTRACT

Sulfonamide drugs were the first antibiotics to be used systemically, and paved the way for the antibiotic revolution in medicine. Sulfonamide derivatives are well known pharmaceutical agents since this group has been the main functional part of the most of the drug structures due to stability and tolerance in human beings. Sulphonamides possess various types of pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, diuretic, antithyroid, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, antiglaucoma, antidepressant, antihypertensive, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, that act by competing with tissue factors such as p-aminobenzoic acid. They have a wide range of activity. They are effective against some protozoa, including Toxoplasma and Coccidia. Sulphonamides diffuse well into body tissues. They are partly inactivated in the liver. The acetylated derivatives are relatively insoluble in acid urine and can precipitate in renal tubules, leading to crystalluria and renal failure. Rabbits excrete alkaline urine and are therefore less likely to develop crystalluria and subsequent renal damage as a result of sulphonamide therapy. However, kidney function is a consideration when selecting any therapeutic agent, including sulphonamides and good hydration should be maintained.

Keywords: Antibacterial, Antithyroid, Anti- inflammatory, Antileishmanial, Antimalarial, Antiepileptic, Protease inhibitors, Antitumor, Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, Antiglaucoma, Antidepressant, Antihypertensive, Cyclooxygenase inhibitors.