Penicillin
- BP-S-6-Medicinal Chemistry III
- Mar 28
- 1 min read
Chemical Structure / Formula of Penicillin
General Formula: C9H11N2O4S (for Penicillin G)
Core Structure: β-lactam ring fused to a thiazolidine ring.
Mechanism of Action
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are essential for peptidoglycan cross-linking.
This leads to cell wall instability and bacterial lysis via autolysins.
Uses
Effective against Gram-positive bacterial infections:
Streptococcal infections
Pneumococcal infections
Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
Meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis)
Side Effects
Common: Nausea, diarrhea, rash.
Serious: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions, seizures (in high doses), Clostridium difficile infection.
