Chemicals and Drugs

Cephalexin

A semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with antimicrobial activity similar to that of CEPHALORIDINE or CEPHALOTHIN, but somewhat less potent. It is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with antimicrobial activity similar to that of CEPHALORIDINE or CEPHALOTHIN, but somewhat less potent. It is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C16H19N3O5S
Molecular Weight
365.4 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
23325-78-2
IUPAC Name
(6R,7R)-7-[[(2R)-2-amino-2-phenylacetyl]amino]-3-methyl-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid;hydrate
InChIKey
AVGYWQBCYZHHPN-CYJZLJNKSA-N
SMILES
CC1=C(N2[C@@H]([C@@H](C2=O)NC(=O)[C@@H](C3=CC=CC=C3)N)SC1)C(=O)O.O
MeSH Unique ID
D002506
Source
PubChem CID 62921

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

15 entry terms
  • Cefalexin
  • 5-Thia-1-azabicyclo(4.2.0)oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, 7-((aminophenylacetyl)amino)-3-methyl-8-oxo-, (6R-(6alpha,7beta(R*)))-
  • Cephalexin Dihydride
  • Cephalexin Hemihydrate
  • Cephalexin Hydrochloride
  • Cephalexin Monohydrate
  • Cephalexin Monohydrochloride
  • Cephalexin Monohydrochloride, Monohydrate
  • Cephalexin, (6R-(6alpha,7alpha(R*)))-Isomer
  • Cephalexin, (6R-(6alpha,7beta(S*)))-Isomer
  • Cephalexin, (6R-(6alpha,7beta))-Isomer
  • Cephalexin, Monosodium Salt
  • Cephalexin, Monosodium Salt, (6R-(6alpha,7beta))-Isomer
  • Ceporexine
  • Palitrex

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

1973 (1972)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cephalosporins (1966-1971)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D02w.065w.589w.099w.249w.200
  2. D02w.886w.665w.074w.200
  3. D03w.633.100.300w.249w.200

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 350.5.C3

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cephalexin. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D002506. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D002506
  2. Cephalexin. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27106123
  3. Cephalexin. In: PubChem Compound. CID 62921. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/62921