Ciprofloxacin, better known as cipro, has been in the news lately because it is particularly effective against Anthrax.  In general, ciprofloxacin is effective against many aerobic (oxygen-requiring or oxygen-tolerant) bacteria, but is not very useful against anaerobic (able or required to live without oxygen) bacteria.  It is a member of the fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics.  Fluoroquinolones are derivatives of the bicyclic nitrogen heterocycle quinoline, C₉H₈N.  They work by interfering with the biosynthesis of DNA and RNA, specifically by interfering with the enzyme topoisomerase.  For a very nice illustration of how ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics work, visit http://www.bayerindia.com/baycip/bcpmode.htm.


You can find out more about ciprofloxacin from http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cipro.htm.


Please note that we are not making any medical recommendation or endorsement by referring you to these web sites.  These links are intended only to provide interesting background material for chemistry students about this drug compound.

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Dept. Chemistry, Univ. Manitoba