Abstract

C. Nagesh¹, J. S. Venkatesh¹, M. M. Shankraiah¹ and I. Shanmukha¹

The role of liquid membrane hypothesis has been studied in the mechanism of action of cephalosporins like cefuroxime sodium. In the present study transport of selected permeants (glucose, p-amino benzoic acid and ions like magnesium, ammonium, phosphate, calcium, sodium, potassium and chloride) through liquid membrane generated by cefuroxime sodium in series with supporting membrane has been studied. The results indicate that the liquid membrane generated by cefuroxime sodium inhibit the transport of various essential bio-molecules and permeants into the cell. The data indicate that modification in permeability of different permeants in the presence of the liquid membrane is likely to play significant role in the biological actions of cefuroxime sodium. It seems that the formation of liquid membrane by cefuroxime may also contribute for the bactericidal activity of the drug, in addition to its conventionally established mechanism i.e. inhibition of cell wall synthesis.

Cefuroxime sodium; liquid membrane; altered permeability; antimicrobial activity

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