Organic Chemistry about Drugs

Drugs

Where Do Drugs Come From? 61% of the 877 small molecules introduced as drugs worldwide from 1981-
2002 were inspired by “Natural Products” (J. Nat. Prod. 2003, 1022). Hence, the discovery, biological profiling (SAR),
and preparation of natural products is of paramount importance in terms of public health.

Organic chemistry in medical field

Organic chemistry is necessary in the medical fields. All living organisms consist of plenty of organic matter. The organic compounds in the various materials which are vital and important to sustain life. Proteins, carbohydrates and fat are all organic compounds contributed to the structure of the human body. Organic compounds are enzymes and incentive materials that are essential for the occurrence of biological processes.  Drugs are also composed mainly of organic compounds. Doctor or pharmacist won’t be effective if he  is not sufficiently aware of the structure and function of the organic compounds of organic chemistry and pharmaceuticals and must understand properly the medication description that he offers the patient.  It is clear that the organic molecules is necessary to sustain life. Understanding of these compounds is critical in the medical field, not only to understand the basic biological functions, but also to predict the scenarios in the body and which may be due to disruption of organic materials. Completion of a medical organic chemistry can only be achieved understanding of organic chemistry.

Analgesics

Analgesics, also known as "painkillers", are medicines which relieve pain. Most analgesics are safe to use when taken as prescribed or instructed by your doctor or pharmacist, in conjunction with the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging. Some extra precautions may apply to patients with pre-existing medical conditions such as kidney failure or gastric ulcers.


This page outlines some commonly used over-the-counter analgesics, including what they are used for, possible side effects and risks associated with using them outside the directions on the packet. The painkillers covered are:

• aspirin
• codeine (in combination products)
• ibuprofen
• paracetamol.

Analgesics are available in many forms. These include tablets, capsules, suppositories, soluble powders and liquids. Analgesics are generally swallowed, and their intended purpose is to relieve pain. Some can also be used to reduce fever, help relieve the symptoms of cold and ’flu, reduce inflammation and swelling, control diarrhea, and suppress coughs.

Morphine:

               
Used as early as 4000 BC, the main ingredient of opium, it was not until 1803 that Morphine was first identified and isolated by the German pharmacist Serturner. He called this alkaloid "Morphia" after Morpheus, the Greek God of Dreams. Morphine is used medicinally to alleviate severe pain. Morphine was
used during the American Civil War as a surgical anesthetic and was sent home with many soldiers for relief of pain. At the end of the war, over 400,000 people had the army disease, morphine addiction. It is obtained from opium poppy pod, used as early as 4000 BC. It has potent analgesic and euphoric properties. Morphine composes 10-15% of dry weight of the poppy. 95% of morphine extracted is converted to codeine.

Structure of Codeine

Structure of Morphine

Aspirin

Willow Tree

Aspirin and the Willow Tree: The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C and 377 B.C. left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to heal headaches, pains and fevers. The active ingredient in willow bark, termed salicin, was isolated in 1828, by Buchner, a pharmacy professor of at the University of Munich. By 1829, the French chemist Leroux improved the extraction procedure, obtaining ~30g of salicin from 1.5kg of willow bark. Later, in 1838, the Italian chemist Piria split salicin into a sugar and an aromatic component (salicylaldehyde) and converted the latter, by hydrolysis and oxidation, to a crystalline, colorless acid, that he named “salicylic acid.” However, salicylic acid was tough on stomachs. In 1853, Gerhardt neutralized salicylic acid by buffering it with sodium (sodium salicylate) and acetyl chloride, creating acetylsalicylic acid. Gerhardt had no desire to market his product and abandoned his discovery. In 1899, the German chemist Hoffmann, who worked for Bayer, rediscovered Gerhardt's formula, and gave it to his father who was suffering from arthritis. With good results, Felix Hoffmann convinced Bayer to market the new wonder drug. Aspirin was patented on March 6, 1889.


          

Aspirin Structure and for medical use

Therefore, from all this we can conclude that Organic compounds, lead a very important role in our lives, it is the basic material in our food. Synthetic carbohydrates and protein, fatty acids, vitamins, enzymes and others are only organic compounds, as well as clothing types and components of petroleum and natural gas, organic compounds are important to humans. Scientists were able to manufacture many of the organic compounds that have a key role in our daily lives; such as medicines, pesticides, fertilizers, cosmetics, plastics, and detergents, etc... which has had the greatest impact on human progress.