Ciprofloxacin is a quinolone antibiotic, specifically a fluoroquinolone, with the structure of quinolin-4(1H)-one bearing cyclopropyl, carboxylic acid, fluoro, and piperazin-1-yl substituents at positions 1, 3, 6, and 7, respectively. It functions as an antiinfective agent, topoisomerase IV inhibitor, antibacterial drug, DNA synthesis inhibitor, and antimicrobial agent. It also acts as an EC 5.99.1.3 [DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing)] inhibitor. It is classified as a quinolone, aminoquinoline, quinolinemonocarboxylic acid, cyclopropane, N-arylpiperazine, and a conjugate base of ciprofloxacin(1+). It is a tautomer of the ciprofloxacin zwitterion and is considered an environmental contaminant and xenobiotic.
