Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies about organic compound. Organic compounds, which can be found near us, are widely used in our daily life. They are used in food, agricultural, industry and pharmacy. One of its prominent function is its uses in medicine. Here is a list of the examples of organic compounds and uses of Organic Chemistry in medicine:
1. Paracetamol
Paracetamol is List of Organic Chemicals, the common name for an organic compound, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol. It is used as analgesic drug. Analgesic is a term used for drugs which have function to relieve pain. You may also refer analgesic drugs as painkillers.
Not only works as a painkiller, Paracetamol is also used to reduce fever, make it an analgesic-antipyretic drug. Nowadays, Paracetamol is widely used as medicine used to reduce headache. Indeed, that’s the uses of Organic Chemistry in medicine.
2. Aspirin
Aspirin or acetyl salicylic acid, just like Paracetamol, is an analgesic-antipyretic drug. Given in higher doses, aspirin can be used as anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis. Aspirin can also be used for treating angina. Its function is to prevent the blockage of blood vessels within heart due to blood clotting.
Aspirin has several side effects. It can cause an upset stomach whether usual pain or even worse, the stomach bleeding. To prevent these side effects, you better consume them after eating your food. Other side effects caused by high doses of Aspirin include ringing in the ears, blurred vision and even dead. (Also read: Examples of Organic Compounds and Uses)
3. Antalgin
Antalgin or Methampyron is a common name for sodium-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-5-methyl-4-pyrazolon aminoetanosulfonat. Antalgin is also part of analgesic-antipyretic drugs used for reducing pain. Antalgin, along with Paracetamol and Aspirin, is the three most well-known of analgesic-antipyretic drugs. Other organic compounds which are used for some purpose are Acetosal and Phenobarbital.
4. Fluorouracil (5-FU)
You may have heard much about cancer. Do you know that organic compound is also used for treating cancer? The organic compound we talked about is 5-Fluorouracil. 5-Fluorouracil is injected to cancer patient’s vein, including stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and others.
Side effects that you should aware are inflammation of the mouth and skin, loss of appetite, hair loss and low number of blood cells. These are common happened to people with cancer. For use in skin as a cream, it may cause irritation.
5. Sulfadiazine
Sulfadiazine belongs to organic compound which is known as aminobenzenesulfonamides. Half of these compound is containing benzenesulfonamide with an amine group attached to its benzene ring. This is an anti-bacterial drug used for the treatment of rheumatic fever and meningococcal meningitis.
An anti-bacterial drug is a part of antibiotic drugs. Antibiotic drugs are produced by organisms, mainly fungus and soil bacteria for treating diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. Other organic compounds used as antibiotic drugs are Tetracycline and Ampicillin. Tetracycline is used to treat pneumonia, whereas Ampicillin is used to prevent and treat meningitis.
6. Isoprenaline
Isoprenaline is classified as a part of sympathomimetic drugs. You may unusual with this term. Sympathomimetic drugs are stimulant organic compound that can imitate the works done by sympathetic nervous system.
Isoprenaline, also known as isoproterenol, is the isopropylamine analog of epinephrine (adrenaline) inside human body. Based on this spesification, Isoprenaline is used for the treatment of bradycardia (slow heart rate) and heart block. Sometimes, it is also used for treating asthma by using metered aerosol or nebulizing devices.
Other useful of this organic compound is to treat Adams-Stokes syndrome’s patients, as cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest and for treating bronchospasm occurred during anesthesia. Although has several uses, the use of Isoprenaline should be followed by some cautions. It should not be used in people with tachycardia or heart block caused by digitalis poisoning or with angina.
7. Prednisolone
11,17-Dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13-dimethyl-6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a] phenanthren-3-one, easily called as Prednisolone, is a corticosteroid medicine. Before talking about the uses, we must first know about corticostreroids. It is a class of steroid hormones, produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates.
Prednisolone is used to treat allergies, autoimmune disorders and even cancer. As allergies treatment, Prednisolone is useful for a wide range treatment, ranging from seasonal allergies to drug allergies. The compound also brings side effects, such as nausea and feeling tired. For a long-term use, the comment side effects are including bone loss and weakness.
8. Chloroform
Chloroform, an organic compound with chemical formula CHCl3. Related to medicine, it is used as anesthetic. Anesthetic is a drug classification which is used to prevent pain during surgery.
Anesthetic works biochemically causing cell depression, mainly to the neural network. Other organic compounds that are commonly used as anesthetic are Ether and Ethyl Chloride. Among those three, Chloroform is the strongest anesthetic, which is five times stronger than Ether. Meanwhile, Ethyl Chloride is the least in form as anesthetic. It is usually used for local anesthetic and small surgery. You may also read Common Chemicals Used in Medicine
9. Turmeric
Turmeric has been used as medicine for treating variety of internal disorders, including indigestion, throat infections, common colds up to cleanse wounds. These uses of Turmeric has been known for long time ago. It is a traditional medicine used by people.
10. Betel Leaf
Another traditional and also herbal medicine that is widely used by people is Betel Leaf. Betel Leaf contains high antiseptic substances used to overcome body and mouth odor, mouth sores and nosebleeds. Nowadays, there are so many products which are sold in markets that use Betel Leaf as extract for cleansing vaginal discharge in women. This useful of Betel Leaf has already been clinically tested.
Antiseptic substances are used to kill germ. The common substance used as antiseptic is phenol. Antiseptic substances in Betel Leaf, referred to nature antiseptic, are five times more effective than the ordinary phenol. Other uses are including herbal medicine for cough, bronchitis, burn, itchy and read eye, ulceration, stopping bleeding gums, breastfeeding to reduce excess and even pimple.
Indeed, there are 5 Branches of Chemistry and that’s all uses in life.