Chemical categorization drugs

In addition to chemical-based drugs, a range of pharmaceutical substances (e.g. hormones and blood products) are produced by/extracted from biological sources. Such products, some major examples of which are listed in Table 1.2, may thus be described as products of biotechnology. In some instances, categorizing pharmaceuticals as products of biotechnology or chemical synthesis becomes somewhat artificial. For example, certain semi-synthetic antibiotics are produced by chemical modification of natural antibiotics produced by fermentation technology. 

After highlighting the present top ten pharmaceuticals, let us now cover a number of other important drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter. We will attempt to categorize them by physiological action but will emphasize chemical structure and synthesis where appropriate. Our first type will be drugs affecting the heart. Cardiovascular agents are used for their action on the heart or on other parts of the vascular system. They modify the total output of the heart or the distribution of blood to certain parts of the circulatory system. 

The bulk of plant-derived medicines can be categorized into a number of chemical families, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes and terpenoids, steroids (e.g. cardiac glycosides), as well as coumarins, quinines, salicylates and xanthines. A list of some better-known plant-derived drugs is presented in Table 1.16. 

Figure 1.4 The chemical structure of alprazolam (Xanax) categorizes the drug as a benzodiazepine. Treatment with benzodiazepine is recommended for patients with panic disorder. Xanax can be habit-forming and treatment should be closely monitored by a physician.

Nitrous oxide is difficult to categorize. Technically, it is an inhalant, yet there are several characteristics that set the drug apart from the typical volatile substances that inhalant abusers favor. First, N20 is not as readily accessible as hair spray, glue, household cleaners, and other off-the-shelf huffing chemicals of choice. Secondly, since nitrous oxide is an actual prescription anesthetic, it may have more perceived prestige among users who would look down at most volatile substance abuse as kid s stuff. ... 

In Fig. 1 we have highlighted with a dark background the different types of NMR methods that are used in drug-discovery projects. These include basic ID and 2D methods that are used to confirm the identity of peptides, determine their conformation, or derive restraint information used in 3D structure calculations (left side of Fig. 1). Methods to study binding interactions (middle section of Fig. 1) can be broadly categorized as being based on NOEs, diffusion, relaxation, or chemical shift changes. NOE-based methods include the transferred NOE... 

---