Thomas M. Cook

Nalidixic Acid—Mode of Action

Nalidixic acid (Fig. 1) [1 -ethyl-1,4-dihydro-7-methyl-4-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid] is a potent antibacterial agent selected from a large group of 1,8-naphthyridines synthesized by Lesher et al. (1962). This synthetic program was initiated by the discovery of the antibacterial activity of 7-chloro-l, 4-dihydro-1-ethyl-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid which was obtained from the mother liquors during purification of chloroquine.