Hydroxamic Acids as Inhibitors of Urease in the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infections

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a microaerophilic spiral bacterium and infection by it in the human stomach causes gastritis and is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and in the development of gastric carcinoma. It produces a nickel-dependent enzyme called urease which catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to produce ammonia and carbamate. This ammonia produced by urease elevates the level of pH in the stomach, breaks gastric mucus, inhibits the consumption of oxygen, and reduces the production of ATP in gastric mucus cells or in mitochondria. In order to stop the pathogenesis of these disorders in the body, it is therefore essential that potent inhibitors of H. pylori urease be developed. The present chapter discusses the role of hydroxamic acids as inhibitors of this enzyme.