Minocycline hydrochloride

Chemical structure: tetracycline

Minocycline, a semi-synthetic second-generation tetracycline, is classified within the tetracycline class of antibiotics and is utilized for the management and treatment of both infectious and non-infectious conditions. Apart from its efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, minocycline also exhibits antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties. Tetracyclines, including minocycline, function by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, thereby preventing charged tRNA from delivering amino acids to elongate the protein chain and form cellular protein. This disruption results in a bacteriostatic effect on the prokaryotic cell, leading to the loss of its ability to grow or replicate. Being lipid-soluble compounds, tetracyclines can traverse hydrophobic barriers such as biological membranes. Among tetracyclines, minocycline demonstrates higher lipophilicity than doxycycline, leading to increased concentrations in the central nervous system (CNS) and the skin.

Minocycline hydrochloride has been used:

• to prepare nanoliposomes to check its effect on macrophages
• for the inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain
• to treat glioma in murine GL261 glioma cells

Minocycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic with bacteriostatic function. Minocycline has anti-inflammatory properties. Minocycline inhibits lipopolysaccharide mediated inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) secretion by macrophages. Minocycline inhibits macrophage proliferation in a dose dependent manner. Minocycline inhibits neuroinflammation in pre-plaque of Alzheimer′s disease-like amyloid pathology through inhibition of key inflammatory enzymes like inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and 5-lipoxygenase. Minocycline inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Minocycline exhibits anti-tumor activity in glioma by inhibiting membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). Minocycline increases cognition and neuronal differentiation. zMinocycline effectively reduces neuropathic pain by increasing the functions of nociceptin/orphanin FQ.

This compound was developed by Teva. To browse the list of other pharma-developed compounds and Approved Drugs/Drug Candidates, click here.

Bottomless glass bottle. Contents are inside inserted fused cone.