Membrane and DNA damage photosensitized by fluoroquinolone antimicrobials agents: a comparative screening

This paper is aimed to provide a general picture of photosensitization induced by some drugs belonging to the group of fluoroquinolones, a recently marketed class of antibacterial agents derived from the quinolone class. The fluoroquinolones photosensitizing activity was checked by different in vitro devices, and these compds. were used in a concn. dose lying in the therapeutic dose level, and meanwhile, with the value of absorbed light dose, which takes into account light intensity, absorbed light fraction, and irradn. time. These latter parameters fall in the energy and intensity fields of solar radiation reaching the earth surface. These procedures aim to provide reliable data and a correct exptl. approach towards drug phototoxicity. The in vitro techniques used were photohemolysis, small unilamellar liposome lipid photoperoxidn. and plasmid DNA photoinduced cleavage. Moreover, some aspects of drug photodegrdn. were considered. The drug tested were Clinafloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Enoxacin, Fleroxacin, Lomefloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin, Orbifloxacin, Pefloxacin, Rufloxacin and Sparfloxacin. The overall results should constitute an alert about taking care in therapeutic administration of these drugs.