Acetohydroxamic acid

Absorption

Well absorbed from the GI tract following oral administration.

Toxicity

Oral, rat: LD50 = 4.8gm/kg. Symptoms of overdose include anorexia, malaise, lethargy, diminished sense of wellbeing, tremor, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.

Description

Acetohydroxamic acid is a potent, non-competitive and irreversible inhibitor of bacterial urease (Ki≈lO^-7M). This enzyme, which is widely distributed in plants and bacteria, but not in mammalian cells, catalyzes the decomposition of urea to ammonia. Elevated urinary ammonia levels can reduce the antibacterial effectiveness of a number of agents. Thus, acetohydroxamic acid is useful as adjunctive therapy to decrease urinary ammonia and alkalinity in patients with chronic urea-splitting urinary infection. Such infections are a leading cause of recurring complications and death in paraplegics.

The Uses of Acetohydroxamic acid

Urease inhibitorAcetohydroxamic acid acts as a drug, as an inhibitor of bacterial and plant urease, which is used for urinary tract infections. It is also used in organic synthesis. It acts as an antiurolithic and antibacterial agent. It is involved in the study of complexation of iron(III) with acetohydroxamic acid as well as in the inhibition study of lansoprazole and omeprazole on Helicobacter pyloni. It plays an important role in the insitu generation of nitrosocarbonylmethane as a Diels-Alder dienophile. In addition to this, it is used in the treatment of kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

What are the applications of Application

Acetohydroxamic Acid is An inhibitor of urease.

Indications

Used, in addition to antibiotics or medical procedures, to treat chronic urea-splitting urinary infections.

Background

Acetohydroxamic Acid, a synthetic drug derived from hydroxylamine and ethyl acetate, is similar in structure to urea. In the urine, it acts as an antagonist of the bacterial enzyme urease. Acetohydroxamic Acid has no direct antimicrobial action and does not acidify urine directly. It is used, in addition to antibiotics or medical procedures, to treat chronic urea-splitting urinary infections.

Pharmacokinetics

Acetohydroxamic Acid, a synthetic drug derived from hydroxylamine and ethyl acetate, is similar in structure to urea. In the urine, it acts as an antagonist of the bacterial enzyme urease. Acetohydroxamic Acid has no direct antimicrobial action and does not acidify urine directly.

Metabolism

35-65% of oral dose excreted unchanged in urine (which provides the drug's therapeutic effect).