Pharmaco-toxicological mode of action of antimicrobial 5-nitroimidazole derivatives.

5-Nitroimidazole derivatives are used as therapeutic agents against anaerobic microorganisms which are pathogenic to man and animals. The antimicrobial mode of action of these compounds is due to the metabolic reduction of the nitro group by microbial metabolism. By analogy, a reduction of the 5-nitro group in the aerobic animal metabolism is commonly assumed. This assumption is doubtful in its general form, and a more differentiated view is presented.