Acridines and Phenanthridines

Acridines and Phenanthridines

	Acridines And Phenanthridines -The acridines include Proflavine and mecaprine. The phenanthridines include ethidium. Proflavine is too toxic to be used as an antibacterial drug. Acridine is widely used as an antimalarial drug. Ethidium is used as a trypanocide.
These drugs act by intercalation binding to DNA between stacked base pairs.The intercalating compounds inhibit both DNA synthesis and DNA dependent RNA synthesis. Proflavine inhibits both DNA and RNA equally. Ethidium preferential1y inhibits DNA polymerase.Intercalation brings about increased, stability of the double DNA helix, thus inhibiting replication.