Nitrofurans

Nitrofurans Latest News

Recently, FSSAI launched an egg safety drive after ‘nitrofurans presence’ triggers uproar.

About Nitrofurans

• Nitrofurans are synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• There are four parent compounds that comprise the nitrofuran class: furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurazone, and nitrofurantoin.
• The defining structural component is a furan ring with a nitro group.
• These were once widely used in poultry, pigs, shrimp and other livestock because they are cheap and highly effective.

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Key Features of Nitrofurans

• These are synthetic chemotherapeutic agents with a broad antimicrobial spectrum.
• They are active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella and Giardia spp, trichomonads, amebae, and some coccidial species.
• They are much more active in acidic environments (a pH of 5.5 is optimal for nitrofurantoin activity). 
• They are primarily bacteriostatic, but at high doses they are also bactericidal.

Impacts on Human Health

• Carcinogenic potential: Some nitrofurans have shown carcinogenic effects in animal studies.
• Toxicity concerns: Potential toxicity and side effects in humans, particularly with prolonged use or high doses.

Source: New India Express