SULFONAMIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Sulfonamide, also known as sulfa drugs or sulfonamides, is a class of synthetic drugs that contains a sulfonamide functional group (SO2NH2). These compounds are widely used as antibiotics in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. The sulfonamide group is derived from sulfonic acid and is characterized by the presence of a sulfur atom that is double-bonded to one oxygen atom and single-bonded to another oxygen atom, with a nitrogen atom bonded to the sulfur atom.
Sulfonamides work by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria by interfering with the synthesis of essential compounds required for bacterial survival. They achieve this effect by blocking the activity of an enzyme called dihydropteroate synthase, which is essential for the production of folic acid. Folic acid is crucial for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins in bacteria, and without it, bacteria cannot grow and reproduce.
These antibiotics are effective against a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections, and some sexually transmitted diseases. They have been widely utilized since the discovery of the first sulfonamide drug, Prontosil, in the 1930s. Sulfonamides have greatly contributed to the treatment of infectious diseases, saving countless lives and representing a milestone in the field of antimicrobial therapy.
Common Misspellings for SULFONAMIDE
- aulfonamide
- zulfonamide
- xulfonamide
- dulfonamide
- eulfonamide
- wulfonamide
- sylfonamide
- shlfonamide
- sjlfonamide
- silfonamide
- s8lfonamide
- s7lfonamide
- sukfonamide
- supfonamide
- suofonamide
- suldonamide
- sulconamide
- sulvonamide
- sulgonamide
- sulfonamids
Etymology of SULFONAMIDE
The word "sulfonamide" comes from a combination of two parts: "sulfon" and "amide".
"Sulfon" is derived from the word "sulfonic acid", which refers to an organic compound containing a sulfur atom connected to three oxygen atoms and a hydrogen atom. The term "sulfonic acid" originated from the chemical element "sulfur" and the Latin word "acidum", meaning acid.
"Amide" is derived from the Latin word "amid" or "amid-", which means "related to salts". The term "amide" is used to describe a class of organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group, C=O, bonded to a nitrogen atom. The word "amide" also has connections to the Latin word "ammonia", which refers to a gaseous compound composed of nitrogen and hydrogen.
Similar spelling words for SULFONAMIDE
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