ICSE/ISC
STANES SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY PROJECT
ON
CHEMICALS IN
MEDICINE
NAME-S.MOHAMED SHARIQ
STD-12 A
Chemicals in Medicines: Introduction,
Uses
Chemicals in Medicines: One of
Chemistry’s most significant
contributions is in the field of medicine.
Chemicals are used to create
medicines. Chemical analysis and the
synthesis of novel chemicals are used
to create new medications. This topic is
so wide that it has spawned a new
branch of chemistry known as
‘Medicinal Chemistry’ of ‘ Chemicals in
Medicines’.
Medicinal chemistry is a branch of
chemistry concerned with the design,
analysis, development, and synthesis of
drugs as medicine. Medicines are
chemical compounds that
help living creatures in the treatment
of diseases or the relief of suffering.
This discipline necessitates knowledge
in synthetic organic chemistry,
pharmacology, and biological sciences.
Medicines
include numerous compounds. Let’s
study everything there is to know
about Chemicals in Medicines in this
post. Scroll down to find more.
Introduction to Chemicals in
Medicines
Drugs are chemical compounds of low
molecular
masses (around150to500u) that
interact with macromolecular targets
and produce suitable biological
responses. When drugs are taken in the
prescribed manner to cure, prevent or
diagnose a particular disease or
ailment, it is known as medicine.
However, it can become poisonous if
consumed in higher doses than
recommended. Chemicals are modified
to create antiseptic and disinfectant
drugs also.
The term ‘chemotherapy’ is used for
the chemicals that are used for
therapeutic effects.
Research is constantly intensifying our
understanding of medicinal Chemistry
and leading to discoveries in this field.
Based on the effects of medicines on
biological systems, they are divided
into different classes: antacids,
antihistamines, analgesics, antiseptics,
etc.
What Are Chemicals in Medicines?
Drugs are chemical substances of low
molecular masses. They produce a
biological response by interacting with
macromolecular targets. When the
biological response of these drugs is
therapeutic and desirable,
these chemicals are known
as medicines and are used in the field
of medicines that helped doctors cure
many diseases and save lives to a great
extent. That has successfully controlled
the mortality rate and helped us to live
a healthy and quality life as a boon!
Chemicals in Medicines
The physicochemical properties of
drugs differ according to their
composition and need. Based on the
chemical constituency, biological
responses, and pharmacological
effects, medicines are classified into
various classes. Let us discuss them in
detail:
1. Antacids
In our stomach, hydrochloric acid is
present that helps in digestion and also
fights against stomach infection. But
when this acid level increases we start
feeling uneasiness, stomach ache, and
in severe conditions gastric ulcers also.
To cure this, we need ‘antacids’. The
chemical substances which neutralize
the presence of excess acids in the
stomach as gastric juices and give us
relief from acidity problems are known
as antacids.
Examples: Milk of Magnesia (Mg(OH)2)
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
Ranitidine
2. Antihistamines
Most of the allergic symptoms and
diseases are cured by
‘antihistamines’. They are most
commonly used by people who are
allergic to pollen and other allergens.
Some of the common antihistamine
medicines like cetirizine,
brompheniramine (Dimetapp), and
Seldane, pheniramine maleate (avil),
etc.
3. Tranquillizers and Analgesics
Transmission of messages from nerve
to receptor is facilitated by
neurologically active medicines. They
are of two types: Tranquilizers and
Analgesics.
1. Tranquillizers have a relaxing
effect and relieve both the physical
and psychological effects of anxiety,
stress, etc. and help the patients to
feel relaxed and calm. The drugs are
recommended for short- and
medium-term use as they are a
component of sleeping pills. They
check the noradrenaline
(neurotransmitter) level that plays
an important role in mood changes.
If the level of noradrenaline is low,
then the person suffers from
depression. To cure such problems,
antidepressant medicines are
required. Examples of some
tranquillizers are Pentobarbital,
Xanax (Alprazolam), Limbitrol
(Chlordiazepoxide), Valium
(Diazepam), etc.
2. Analgesics are medicines that
help us to get rid of the pain. They
are also known as pain killers. They
are divided into two classes:
3. Non-narcotic analgesics –
Antipyretics are medicines that
override the secretion of
prostaglandin in the hypothalamus
to reduce fever by lowering body
temperature. The most famous
examples of this class of medicines
are aspirin and paracetamol. Aspirin
is chemically known as
acetylsalicylic acid. It is used to
reduce pain, fever, or inflammation.
Paracetamol is also used to treat
moderate pain, body aches, and
fever. They are non-narcotic
analgesics, i.e. they are non-
addictive.
4. Narcotic Analgesics – Narcotic
analgesics produce desired
pharmacological effects like they
reduce fever and induce sleep by
interacting with specific opiate
receptors. Morphine narcotics
(obtained from the opium poppy) are
mostly used to get relief from
postoperative pain, cardiac pain, and
labour pain during childbirth, severe
stage of cancer, and many more.
4. Antimicrobials
Antimicrobials are a group of medicines
that retards the growth of disease-
causing microorganisms like bacteria,
fungi, viruses, etc. For example,
antibiotics are used against bacteria,
antivirals against viruses, and
antifungals against fungi.
5. Antibiotics
Antibiotics being less toxic for humans
and animals are used as medicines to
treat bacterial infections. Now,
antibiotics refer to a substance
produced wholly or partially by
chemical synthesis which inhibits the
growth or destroys the pathogens.
The development of antibiotics was
started by Paul Ehrlich, a German
bacteriologist, who investigated
medicine arsphenamine (arsenic-based
structure), well-known as salvarsan for
the treatment of syphilis but they are
toxic to human beings. The real
revolution in the field of antibiotics was
brought by the discovery of Penicillin
from fungus by Alexander Fleming
in 1929.
6. Antiseptics and Disinfectants
Antiseptics are the chemicals that
prevent the growth or kill the
microorganisms without harming the
living tissues. They can be applied to
wounds, cuts, and infected skin
surfaces, etc. They are also used in
deodorants, mouthwashes, and mouth
fresheners to reduce unpleasant
odours caused by bacterial
decomposition in the body.
The basic difference between
antiseptics and disinfectants is that
an antiseptic is applied to the living
cells, while disinfectants are applied to
non-living surfaces to kill germs. A
commonly used antiseptic is Dettol; it is
a mixture of chloroxylenol and
terpineol. Chlorine and phenol
solutions are known as disinfectants.
Conclusion
Medicine is a chemical molecule that is
used to treat ailments or alleviate pain
in patients. Chemicals in medicine can
cure or deteriorate your health.
Traditional medicines are distinguished
from contemporary medications, which
are the opposite of each other.
Traditional medications are taken from
natural resources such as plants and
animals, whereas contemporary
medicines are created artificially in a
laboratory and then administered to
patients. Unwanted side effects of
medications are common. Medicines
should also be taken in the manner
suggested by a healthcare professional
in order to avoid any negative effects.
