Sulfanilamide

Sulfanilamide is a sulfonamide antibacterial medication. It was one of the first systematic antibiotics to be used and was widely used in the second half of the 20th century. It is an intermediate in the synthesis of other pharmaceutical drugs such as sulfamethoxazole and sulfapyridine.

History

Sulfanilamide was first synthesized by the Austrian chemist Paul Gelmo in 1908 and was used in the dye industry. Its antibacterial properties were discovered by the German pathologist and bacteriologist Gerhard Domagk. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1939 for the discovery of the antibacterial effects of Prontosil, a red dye which is metabolized in the body to release sulfanilamide.

Mechanism of action

Sulfanilamide works by inhibiting the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase. This enzyme is needed in the synthesis of folic acid, which is essential for the growth and multiplication of bacteria. By inhibiting this enzyme, sulfanilamide prevents the bacteria from synthesizing folic acid, thereby stopping their growth.

Side effects

Like all medications, sulfanilamide can cause side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. In rare cases, it can cause serious side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe skin reaction, and hemolytic anemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made.

See also

• Sulfonamide (medicine)
• Antibacterial
• Paul Gelmo
• Gerhard Domagk

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