Medicinal chemistry :
It is the science, which deals with the discovery and design of new therapeutic chemicals and development of these chemicals into new drugs.
Generally Medicinal Chemists can:
• Make new compounds.
• Determine their effect on biological processes.
• Alter the structure of the compound for optimum effect and minimum side effects.
• Study uptake, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.
• Make new compounds.
• Determine their effect on biological processes.
• Alter the structure of the compound for optimum effect and minimum side effects.
• Study uptake, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.
What are drugs and why do we need new ones?
Drugs are defined as chemical substances that are used to prevent or cure diseases in humans, animals and plants.
** Drugs act by interfering with biological processes, so no drug is completely safe.
** Drug resistance or tolerance (tachyphylaxis) occurs when a drug is no longer effective in controlling a medical condition.
** The development of an enzyme that metabolizes the drug is arelatively common reason for drug resistance.
SOURCES OF DRUGS :
1- Animal :
Such as insulin (pig, cow) and growth hormone.
Such as insulin (pig, cow) and growth hormone.
2- Plant :
Such as atropine, morphine and cardiac glycosides of digitalis.
Such as atropine, morphine and cardiac glycosides of digitalis.
3- Inorganic :
Such as arsenic, mercury, silver salts and lithium. Synthetic Includes:-
a) chemical synthesis (propranolol).
b) Biological synthesis (penicillin).
c) biotechnology (human insulin).