Intro Flashcards
What is a drug
- a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication
- synthetic or non-synthetic
- usually synthesized outside of the organism that produces effects of alters bodily functions
types of drug usage
- therapeutics
- recreation or illegal purposes
poisons vs. toxins
- poisons are drugs
- toxins are often defined as poisons of biological origin
Pharmacology
the study of drugs, including their origin, chemistry, nature, effects and mechanisms of action
What is a Active Ingredient ?
substance in a drug that is pharmacologically active
Structural Elements
drug size, atomic composition, charge, and shape are relevant to the ability of drugs to act at receptors
Pharmacodynamics
the action of a drugs on the body through its receptor interactions
- biochemical and physiological effects of drugs
Pharmacokinetics
the action of the body on a drug: drug’s absorption, distribution and elimination
- dosage is relevant because it may relate to therapeutic vs. toxic usage
How do Humans use plant compounds?
- ritualistic, religious, or magical use
- medicinal use (treat/cure disease or disease prevention)
- toxic or poisonous use
- recreational use
Atropa belladona (Belladona)
- ex. of ritualistic, religious or magical use
- potions in the Middle ages were often prepared using plants from the Solanaceae family (nightshades)
- concept of ‘flying on broomsticks’ may have been the result of a drug-induced hallucinatory experience
- ‘witches’ would rub lipid soluble plant potions on their legs and subsequently believed they were flying
Salix babylonica (Willow Species)
- ex. of medicinal use of plant compounds
- historical use recorded by Dioscorides in his De Materia Medica
- long history of willow use to treat gout, rheumatism, toothache, earache
What is the Active Ingredient in Willow?
Salicin
- a glycoside compound that is broken down into salicylic acid when ingested
- a synthetic version of salicylic acid is more commonly known as Aspirin
Example of Plant compounds used for murder
- socrates was killed using Conium maculatum (poison hemlock)
What is the active compound in Conium maculatum?
- is an alkaloid called coniine
- many of the deadly compounds are chemically classified as ‘alkaloids’
Castor Plants (what is their oil and derivatives used in?)
- are often planted for ornamental purposes in gardens
- oil and derivatives are used in: soaps, lubricants, hydraulic and brake fluids, dyes, coatings, inks, cold resistant plastics, pharmaceuticals and perfumes
- castor oil is an FDA approved OTC laxative
