Nitrofurans:
FSSAI launched egg safety drive after ‘nitrofurans presence’ triggers uproar.
- 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.
- Nitrofurans 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.
- These were once widely used in poultry, pigs, shrimp and other livestock because they are cheap and highly effective.
- 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.
