Metronidazole Hydrochloride

**Semantic type:** Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** The hydrochloride salt of a synthetic nitroimidazole derivative with antiprotozoal and antibacterial activities. Although its mechanism of action is not fully elucidated, un-ionized metronidazole is readily taken up by obligate anaerobic organisms and is subsequently reduced by low-redox potential electron-transport proteins to an active, intermediate product. Reduced metronidazole causes DNA strand breaks, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis and bacterial cell growth.

**Synonyms:** - Flagyl - Flagyl I.V. - METRONIDAZOLE HYDROCHLORIDE - Metro I.V. - SC 32642 - Satric