2-Nitroimidazole (azomycin) is a nitroimidazole antibiotic such as metronidazole [
M0924] and dimetridazole [
D1564]. Azomycin was originally isolated from an unidentified soil bacterium
Streptomyces sp. by Maeda
et al. Azomycin can now be made by chemical synthesis. Azomycin is active against Gram-positive bacteria including mycobacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and protozoa. Azomycin have been reported as an inhibitor of bacterial ribonucleotide reductase. Meanwhile, several 2-nitroimidazoles have been reported as bioreductive markers for tumour hypoxia.