pharmaceutical chemistry Flashcards
what are drugs
substances that can alter the biochemical processes of the body
what are medicines
drugs that have beneficial effect (these are used in medicine)
what does medicine usually contain
usually contains the drugs and other ingredients such as fillers to add bulk or sweetners to improve the taste
how do most drugs work
by binding to protein molecules. these protein molecules can be on the surface of a cell (receptor) or specific enzyme molecules within a cell
drugs that work by binding to receptors can be classified as _____ or _____ according to the response they trigger when bound to the receptor site
agonist
antagonist
agonist
an agonist mimics the body’s natural compound , and binds to the receptor molecule to produce a response similar to the natural active compound
antagonist
an antagonist blocks the natural compound from binding to the receptor , and so blocks the natural response from occurring
what is an enzyme inhibitor
many drugs that act on enzymes are classified as enzyme inhibitors. These drugs bind to the active site of the enzyme and in doing so block or inhibit the reaction that normally occurs / is being catalysed there
The overall shape and size of a drug is such that it interacts with a receptor binding site or
to the active site of an enzyme. The types of interactions formed can include…..
van der Waals forces and/or ionic bonds.
The structural fragment of a drug molecule that allows it to form interactions with a receptor binding site or to an enzyme active site normally consists of…
different functional
groups correctly orientated with respect to each other.
By comparing the structures of drugs that have similar effects on the body, what can be found ?
By comparing the structures of drugs that have similar effects on the body, the structural fragment that is involved in the drug action can be identified.
