The Enantioselective Toxicities of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals

Besides chiral pesticides and other chiral pollutants, one of the enantiomers of certain types of drug is also toxic. Therefore, the presence of 

However, due to the excellent action of thalidomide in erythema nodosum leprosum, a leprosy complication, it is now being marketed in the USA under the trade name of Synovir. Thalidomide has also been reported to be effective against aphthous ulcers in patients who are infected with HIV. Therefore, thalidomide may become a miracle dmg for HIV patients in the future, and that is why it is now available, although very tightly prescribed. 

Domino [94], in 1986, reported on the enantioselective opioid hallucinogen interactions of A,V-dimethyltriptamine and lysergic acid N,N-diethylamide in rats. In an adult male, trained on a positive reinforced fixed ratio of four (FR4 a reward of 0.01 ml of sugar milk earned on every fourth bar press), V,A-dimethyltriptamine, in concentrations of 3.2 

As discussed above, enantiomers of chiral pollutants may have different toxicities to biota, but some reports have been published indicating more toxicities of the racemic mixture in comparison to the pure enantiomers, which may be due to the catalytic properties of one enantiomer with respect to another. The concept of chirality has been explored to a greater extent in drugs and pharmaceuticals but, unfortunately, the enantioselective toxicities of the chiral pollutants have not been fully investigated in detail. Because of the different toxicities of the enantiomers, data on the toxicity of the racemic pollutant are not reliable. Therefore, it is essential to explore the enantioselective hazardous effects and toxicities of chiral pollutants. Moreover, the already existing data on the hazardous effects and toxicities of chiral pollutants should be modified in terms of the enantioselective toxicities. 

Aboul-Enein and I. AU, Chiral Separations by Liquid Chromatography and Related Technologies, Dekker, New York, 2003. 

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