Nifurtimox

Nifurtimox is a nitrofuran antimicrobial agent used to treat Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), a chronic protozoal infection due to Trypanosoma cruzi that can lead to severe disability and death from gastrointestinal and cardiac disease. Nifurtimox is rarely associated with serum aminotransferase elevations during therapy and has not been linked to cases of clinically apparent liver injury. Nifurtimox is a nitrofuran derivative with antiprotozoal and potential antineoplastic activities. Nifurtimox is reduced by cytosol enzymes or flavin-containing microsomal enzymes to a highly reactive nitro anion free radical; autooxidation of the nitro anion free radical generates cytotoxic superoxide anion (02-). Additionally, nifurtimox-derived nitro anion free radicals may alkylate macromolecules including nucleic acids and proteins, resulting in the disruption of their structure and function. It is grouped under the following drug class(es): Trypanosomiasis agents. Its therapeutic use is listed as anti-infectives, antiparasitics and antiprotozoals. The directory classifies it as a commercial API with a synthetic source/manufacturing origin. Other names for this substance include Lampit and Bayer 2502. Its PubChem CID is 6842999.