Levofloxacin (CED0001335)

Levofloxacin is an exogenous organic compound with the formula C18H20FN3O4 and an average molecular weight of 361.37 g/mol. It exists as a solid at room temperature. Levofloxacin belongs to the quinoline carboxylic acids, a subclass of quinolines and derivatives within the organic compounds. It is classified as a drug (PMC4201908) and an antibacterial drug (PMC4201908) used in the treatment of osteomyelitis (PMC9668588) and pneumonia (PMC11721932, PMC1492602). Mechanistically, levofloxacin acts as a DNA synthesis inhibitor (PMC4201908) and a topoisomerase IV inhibitor (PMC4201908). It inhibits bacterial type II topoisomerases, specifically topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. By inhibiting the A subunits of DNA gyrase, which are encoded by the gyrA gene, the compound causes supercoiling, resealing, and strand breakage on the bacterial chromosome, thereby inhibiting DNA transcription and replication. Its recorded protein targets include DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA), DNA topoisomerase 4 subunit A (parC), DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha (TOP2A), the multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (SLC47A1), and the voltage-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channel KCNH2. Levofloxacin has been detected in the prostate. Exposure routes include oral, intravenous, respiratory, inhalation, topical, and ophthalmic. The compound is found in 26 recorded sources, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals and veterinary products (such as quinolone antibacterials, antiinfectives, and drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis), food and food processing (including the processing of meats, fish, or the preparation of sparkling wine or wine), household cleaning and consumer products (such as tobacco pipes and non electric simulated smoking devices), electrical and electronic equipment (including antennas, amplifiers, and discharge lamps), and building and construction floors.