Ofloxacin is a synthetic fluoroquinolone antimicrobial structurally related to nalidixic acid [
N0490]. Ofloxacin has broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against most Gram-negative bacteria, many Gram-positive bacteria and some anaerobes. The mechanism of action of ofloxacin (and other fluoroquinolone) involves inhibition of bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase (topoisomerases II), enzymes required for DNA replication, transcription, repair and recombination. The active
S-(-)-enantiomer of ofloxacin is levofloxacin [
L0193]. (The product is for research purpose only.)