The nitrofurans are a group of antibacterial compounds. The main members of this group are furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone. They are relatively broad-spectrum bactericidal drugs. They are active against Salmonella spp., coliforms, Mycoplasma spp., Coccidia spp. and some other protozoa. The use of all nitrofurans, with the exception of furazolidone was banned in the EU in 1993. The ban was introduced because of concerns over the carcinogenicity of these compounds. Two years later, the ban was extended to cover furazolidone. Again, the reasons for the ban were the carcinogenicity of the parent drug, the extensive metabolism of furazolidone and the lack of information concerning the safety of its metabolites. Since then, it has been forbidden to use any nitrofuran in any food-producing animal within the EU, or in any animal destined for export into the EU.
Furazolidone [67-45-8]
3-(5-Nitrofurfurylideneamino)-2-oxazolidinone
Furaltadone [139-91-3]
5-Morpholinomethyl-3-(5-nitrofurfurylideneamino)-2-oxazolidinone
Nitrofurantoin [67-20-9]
N-(5-Nitro-2-furfurylidene)-1-aminohydantoin
Nitrofurazone [59-87-0]
5-Nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone
參考資料:
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/008/y5723e/y5723e0n.htm