Penicillin

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.

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