Available on line www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research __________________________________________________ ISSN No: 0975-7384 CODEN(USA): JCPRC5 J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(2):581-588 581 Synthesis, characterization and anti-bacterial screening of Piroxicam based sulfonates Mamatha Nakka, a Suresh Babu Nallapati, a Lingam Venkata Reddy, a Khagga Mukkanti a and Sarbani Pal* ,b a Centre for Chemical Sciences and Technology, Institute for Sciences and Technology, JNT University Hyderabad, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India b Department of Chemistry, MNR Degree and PG College, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT A series of sulfonate esters derived from piroxicam was synthesized via simple convenient synthetic route which involves the sulfonation of the enolic OH of piroxicam in one pot. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of modern analytical techniques. These were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. All the compounds were found to be potent when tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Keywords: Piroxicam, sulfonation, antibacterial activity. ______________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic properties of NSAIDs are particularly useful in treating rheumatic and other musculoskeletal disorders. During the last fifty years a plethora of NSAIDs have been introduced on the market indicative of the commercial potential for such compounds and attesting to their utility in the treatment of pain and inflammation of varying origin from the head to the big toe. NSADs also show antibacterial activity. 1 Two common NSAIDs ibuprofen (1, FIG. 1) and aspirin (2, FIG. 1) which were attached to a nitrogen mustard ester or a tripeptide showed antibacterial activity against penicillin susceptible or resistant E. Coli. 2 Diclofenac (3, FIG. 1), indomethacin (4, FIG. 1) and mefenamic acid (5, FIG. 1) were also screened for antibacterial activity by using disc diffusion assay and spectrophotometric technique. 3 Mefenamic acid (5) showed potential ability to prevent growth of dermatophytes. 4 Piroxicam (1,2- benzothiazine-3-caboxamide-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(2-pyridyl)-1, 1-dioxide, 6, FIG. 1), 5 a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) belongs to oxicam class of NSAID, widely used for