- Chemical Name:
*(4S,4aR,5aR,12aS)-4,7-Bis(dimethylamino)-1,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a-octahydro-3,10,12,12a-tetrahydroxy-1,11-dioxo-2-naphthacenecarboxamide* - Molecular Formula: C₂₃H₂₇N₃O₇
- Molecular Weight: 457.49 g/mol
- Appearance: Yellow crystalline powder (hydrochloride salt is more water-soluble)
- Solubility:
- Water: ~50 mg/mL (pH-dependent)
- DMSO: >100 mg/mL
- Ethanol: ~10 mg/mL
- Stability:
- Light-sensitive (store in amber vials)
- Degrades in strong acids/bases
- More lipophilic than other tetracyclines (enhanced tissue penetration)
- Mechanism of Action
- Primary Target: 30S ribosomal subunit → inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
- Spectrum of Activity:
- Gram-positive: Staphylococcus aureus (including some MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Gram-negative: Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae
- Atypicals: Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia
- Other: Mycobacterium marinum, Wolbachia (symbiont in filarial worms)
- Additional Effects:
- Anti-inflammatory (inhibits MMPs, microglial activation)
- Neuroprotective (crosses BBB effectively)
