ScienceJuly 31, 2026
metronidazole
MEH-truh-NY-duh-zohl
Definition
A synthetic antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication used to treat a wide variety of bacterial and parasitic infections.
Etymology
The name is a chemical compound of 'metro-' (from the nitrogen-containing methyl group), '-nidazole' (derived from the imidazole ring structure), and '-a-' (a connecting vowel).
In the news
In the article, metronidazole is identified as an antibiotic that selectively reduces certain gut bacteria, which in turn signals liver cells to decrease their clearance of chemotherapy drugs.
Reshaping the gut microbiome can boost chemotherapy delivery to tumors
Read the full article ↗UT MD Anderson