Ornidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic and antiparasitic agent, with broad-spectrum antiprotozoan and anti-aerobic activity. It was synthsized by Hoffmann-La-Roche (1966) and was first introduced for trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis) in 1974. It is used as an analytical standard to determine traces of the compound via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), and gas chromatography (GC). The compound can be used in toxicology, forensics, and analytical chromatography. Ornidazole can also be used in research studies with Crohn's disease.
| Mechanism of Action | It is a 5-nitroimidazole derivative and its antiparasitic properties are due to the formation of the nitro radical anion. |
| Spectrum | Ornidazole has broad-spectrum activity against protozoa such as Giardia, and it was first introduced for trichomoniasis, but is also used for amebiasis. It also has anti-anaerobic bacterial capacities with antimicrobial spectrum similar to metronidazole. |
| Microbiology Applications | In vitro sensitivity to Ornidazole of Giardia isolates were evaluated with the growth inhibition test, and authors found variability of the Giardia stocks tested in terms of sensitivity. This spectra of sensitivity may have implications with regards to the zoonotic nature of human giardiasis (Majewska et al, 1991). |
| Eukaryotic Cell Culture Applications | Metronidazole cytotoxicity was assessed in human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) when it was mixed with a polydioxanone polymer solution (PDS) and processed into bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds. Research suggests that these scaffolds could be a biologically safe antimicrobial delivery system for regenerative endodontics (Bottino et al, 20130). |
| Molecular Formula | C7H10ClN3O3 |
| References |
Jokipii L and Jokipii A (1982) Treatment of giardiasis: Comparative evaluation of Ornidazole and tinidazole as a single oral dose. Gasteroenterol. 83(2):P399-404 Majewska AC, Kasprzak W, De Jonckheere JF, Kaczmarek E (1991) Heterogeneity in the sensitivity of stocks and clones of Giardia to metronidazole and Ornidazole. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1991 85(1):67-69 PMID 2068765 Rutgeerts P et al (2005) Ornidazole for prophylaxis of postoperative Crohn's disease recurrence: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterology.128(4):856-861 PMID 15825069 Singh P, Mitta R, Sharma G, Singh S, Singh A (2003) Ornidazole: Comprehensive profile. Profiles of Drug Substances, Excipients and Related Methodology. 30:123-184 Srinivasan R and Lichtenstein GR (2004) Recent developments in the pharmacological treatment of Crohn's disease, Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 13(4):373-391 Vaghani SS, Patel MM, Satish CS (2012) Synthesis and characterization of pH-sensitive hydrogel composed of carboxymethyl chitosan for colon targeted delivery of Ornidazole. Carbohydrate Res. 347(1):76-82 PMID 22099382 |