Chemistry and Pharmacology

To fully understand how codeine exerts its various actions in the body 

Together, the chemistry of codeine and the drug s absorption into the bloodstream, distribution to various compartments and tissues in the body, metabolism (breakdown of the parent compound into smaller molecules, or metabolites), and excretion are intimately related to how codeine exerts its medicinal or therapeutic effects. Codeine s chemical properties and pharmacologic characteristics explain how, figuratively speaking, a spoonful of codeine can relieve pain, suppress cough, or act as an antidiarrheal. 

The medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of codeine can also shed light on why specific side effects (the unintended, undesirable, and unwanted effects) associated with codeine occur. Codeine s side effects, or toxicities, are discussed in the next chapter. 

The chemical name of codeine—methylmorphine—is rather revealing, especially for those who know organic chemistry (the study of carbon and compounds containing carbon, which are referred to as organic compounds). As with mor- 

Although codeine is manufactured in formulations in which it is the sole active ingredient (codeine phosphate oral 

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W. I. Taylor and N. R. Famswortli, eds., The Catharanthus Alkaloids, Botanj, Chemist, Pharmacology and Clinical Uses, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1973 W. I. Taylor and N. R. Famswortli, eds.. The Uinca Alkaloids, Botanj, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1973. 

This review is an attempt to collect under one heading and to present in a systematic manner the large body of work which deals with the chemistry of the carboline ring systems. Some three hundred papers in this field have been published during the last decade, more than twice as many as appeared during the preceding fifty years. The renewed interest in the chemistry of the carbolines is due in no small measure to the discovery of serotonin and to the recent developments in the chemistry and pharmacology of the Rauwolfia and related alkaloids. 

A meaningful dialogue between chemists and pharmacologists is the single most important element of the drug discovery process. The necessary link between medicinal chemistry and pharmacology has been elucidated by Paton [2] ... 

Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115. 

M. Shamma, The Isoquinoline Alkaloids Chemistry and Pharmacology , Academic Press, New York, 1972. 

Radiopharmaceuticals Chemistry and Pharmacology, edited by Adrian D. Nunn... 

HOSTETTMANN, K.A., MARSTON, A., Saponins. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Cambridge University Press, 1995. 

Fujitani J (1909) Chemistry and pharmacology of insect powder. Arch Exp Path Pharmak 61 47-75... 

Nearly all of the microbial and mammalian transformation studies with this group of alkaloids have been focused on nicotine. Microorganisms have been used to resolve racemic nicotine to make available unnatural (/ )-(+)-nicotine for biological evaluation. Highly significant work has detailed the mechanism of nicotine oxidation in mammals, and has resulted in the identification of reactive intermediates formed as the alkaloid is transformed by hepatic monooxygenases. The chemistry and pharmacology of the pyridine alkaloids is discussed by Strunz and Findlay in Volume 26 of this treatise. 

Extensive metabolic work continues with the pyrrolizidine alkaloids many of which are known toxic principles of plants responsible for conditions such as irreversible hemorrhagic liver necrosis, megalocytosis, and cancer. Considerable interest remains in the metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their A-oxides to metabolic pyrroles thought to participate in molecular events associated with the above-mentioned toxicities. The chemistry and pharmacological properties of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids is authoritatively discussed by Wrobel in Volume 26 of this treatise. 

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