SOURCES OF DRUGS SOURCES OF DRUGS 1 a

SOURCES OF DRUGS

SOURCES OF DRUGS 1) a) NATURAL Plants Oldest source of drugs used empirically Leaves, seeds, flowers, roots, bark etc Problems: Identification of plant Climatic and social conditions of area Season of collection Condition of storage cont.

u Standardization of active principle u Purity of active ingredient u Maintenance of supply line u Active principle is synthesized after detection e. g. morphine, codeine, digitalis, quinine, atropine, reserpine and pilocarpine

VARIOUS FORMS OF PLANT DRUG u Extract, powders etc infusions, decoction, u Chemicals (alkaloids, glycosides, oil, resins, tannins, gums etc. ) isolated from different forms are used for humans and animals, c/d active principles

b) Animals u Modern drugs u Active principles are proteins, oil and fats, enzymes and hormones u e. g. gonadotropins, heparin, insulin, thyroid extract and enzymes

c) Microorganisms u Antibiotics derived = fungi and bacteria after discovery of penicillin in 1928 and its use in 1940 u Use u E. g. for infective diseases penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and erythromycin

d) Minerals u Metals, metalloids, non-metal subs. and their compounds u E. g. iron, calcium, aluminium, sodium, sulphur, lithium etc magnesium, potassium,

2) SEMI-SYNTHETIC u Complex molecules u Expensive and for impure natural compound u E. g. 6 -aminopencillanic acid (fungus), semi-synthetic human insulin (pork insulin)

4) SYNTHETIC u Pharmaceutical laboratory u Organic or inorganic or combination of organic and inorganic compounds u >90% drugs u E. g. older drug; chloroform, ether, nitrous oxide, chloral hydrate u Antipyretics, sulphonamides, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, anti anxiety etc

RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY u Human insulin human proinsulin gene c. DNA E. coli treat proinsulin to form insulin u Growth hormone, tissue plasminogen activator, vaccines, interferon, erythropoitins, G-colony stimulating factor