I.

Definitions
1. Pharmacology
- The study of drugs, their sources, their nature, and their properties. Pharmacology is the study of the body's
reaction to drugs. It emerged as a major area in American medicine largely due to the efforts of John Jacob
Abel (1857- 1938) who stressed the importance of chemistry in medicine, did research on the endocrine
glands, first isolated epinephrine (adrenaline), crystallized insulin(1926), and became the first
pharmacology professor in the U.S.
2. Drug
- Any substance or product that is used or intended, to be modify or explore physiological systems or
pathological states for the benefit of the recipient.
- is a chemical which is given to people in order to treat or prevent an illness or disease.
- any synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural chemical substance used in the treatment, prevention,
or diagnosis of disease, or for other medical reasons.
3. Chemical Name
- These are given according to the chemical constitution of drug.
4. Generic Name
- Typically derived from chemical name.
- Usually shorter
5. Brand Name
- Name registered by the manufacturer
- Trademark symbol (R in a circle)
- Only be used by the single manufacturer
- Same drug may have several trade names (depending on number of manufacturers)
- The first letter of the name is capitalized.

EXAMPLE
Chemical Name Generic Name Brand Name
Acetyl Salicylic Acid Aspirin Disprin (India)
Bayer’s Asprin (USA)
Ecospirin (India)
6. Over the counter drugs (OTC)
7. Prescription drugs

II. Examples
A. Plant source
Plant Source Drug Action
Ardisia Japonica (Marlberry) Bergenin Antitussive
 Salix alba (white willow) Salicin Analgesic
Anamirta cocculus (fish berry) Picrotoxin Analeptic
Opium Morphine Analgesic
Chinchona Bark Quinidine Antiarrhythmic, Malaria

B. Animal Source
Animal Source Drug Action
Leech Heparin
C. Mineral/ Inorganic Source
Mineral Source Drug Action
Ferrous Sulfate Anaemia
Aluminum Hydroxide Antacid
Gold Solganal, Auranofin Anti-inflammatory
D. Synthetic Source
Synthetic Source Drug Action
Meperidine Demerol Analgesic
Diphenoxylate Lomtil Antidiarrhea
Co-Trimoxazole Septra Used in the treatment of UTI’s

III. 3 sources of drug information