DRUG:

Definition, Nomenclature,
Classification, Sources
 Definition of a Drug:
The term "drug" means
(A) articles recognized in the official United States
Pharmacopoeia, official Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia
of the United States, or official National Formulary, or
any supplement to any of them; and
(B) articles intended for use in the diagnosis,
cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in
man or other animals; and
(C) articles (other than food) intended to affect
the structure or any function of the body of man or
other animals; and
(D) articles intended for use as a component of
any article specified in clause (A), (B), or (C).
[FD&C Act, sec. 201(g)(1)].
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact1.htm
 Definition of a Drug:
• Diagnosis – used to identify a disease. Example –
barium sulfate in x-ray of GIT.
• Prevention – used to prevent the occurrence of
diseases. Example – vaccines against diseases like
tuberculosis, whooping cough, typhoid etc.
• Cure – to cure or get rid of some disease. Example –
antibiotics to cure infections caused by
microorganisms.
• Control – keep the disease under control although it
may not be fully cured. Example – anti-diabetic drugs
to control diabetes, antihypertensive drugs to treat
hypertension and control the blood pressure.
• Mitigate – reduce some of sufferings or relief some
symptoms. Example –Painkillers in headache, smooth
muscle relaxant in stomachache.
 Medicine
• OTC
• Prescription only

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Excipients

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 Nomenclature of Drugs
• Generic name : Shortened name of a drug,
usually given by the health authorities and
officially used in the pharmacopoeias like BP and
USP. Sometimes, there may be more than one
generic name of a particular drug.
• For example
BP name USP name
Paracetamol Acetaminophen

• Chemical name : Name based on the chemical

structure of the drug. The name is applicable only
for pure drugs.
 Nomenclature of Drugs O

For example HN C CH3

• Generic name paracetamol

• Chemical name N-acetyl para-aminophenol
• or
• 4-hydroxyacetanilide OH
• or
• N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.
• Brand name / Trade name : Name of a drug
product ( medicine ) given by the manufacturer.
For example
– Napa Tablet ( Beximco ) for Paracetamol tablet
– Ace Tablet ( Square ) for Paracetamol tablet
 Classification of drugs
Drugs can be classified on the basis of various parameters.

On the basis of pharmacological action:

Analgesic and antipyretic drug – Paracetamol
Anti-inflammatory drug – Diclofenac sodium
Antihypertensive drugs - propranolol

On the basis of target organ:

Gastrointestinal drugs (acting on the gastrointestinal tract) –
antacids
Cardiovascular drugs (acting on the cardiovascular system )
– antihypertensive.
CNS Drugs (acting on central nervous system)-Diazepam
 Classification of drugs
On the basis of therapeutic uses :
Antidiarrheal – acting against diarrhea
Anti-diabetic – acting against diabetes

On the basis of target receptors :

β-blockers – blocks the β-receptors
H2-blockers - blocks the H2-receptors
α–stimulants – stimulates the α receptors
 Classification of drugs
BNF drugs and preparations
• 1 Gastro-intestinal system
• 2 Cardiovascular system
• 3 Respiratory system
• 4 Central nervous system
• 5 Infections
• 6 Endocrine system
• 7 Obstetrics, gynaecology, and urinary-tract disorders
• 8 Malignant disease and immunosuppression
• 9 Nutrition and blood
• 10 Musculoskeletal and joint diseases
• 11 Eye
• 12 Ear, nose, and oropharynx
• 13 Skin
• 14 Immunological products and vaccines
• 15 Anaesthesia
 Practical Classifications/ ATC drug classification

• The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification

system is by the WHO.
• The system provides a global standard for classifying
medical substances and serves as a tool for drug utilisation
research.
• The system is divided into 14 general groups according to
the body system on which they act.
• Title: The Anatomical, Therapeutic, Chemical (ATC)
classification system with Defined Daily Doses (DDDs),
short: The ATC/DDD system.
 Example of ATC code structure (metformin)

Level Code Content Group

1 A Alimentary tract and Anatomical main
metabolism group
2 A10 Drugs used in Therapeutic subgroup
diabetes
3 A10B Oral blood glucose Pharmacological
lowering drugs subgroup
4 A10BA Biguanides Chemical subgroup
5 A10BA02 Metformin Chemical substance
Sources of Drug

Plantlife (flowers, trees, bushes)

Micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi)
A) The Natural Animal life (frogs, snakes, scorpions)
Biochemicals (Neurotransmitters, hormones)
Marine chemistry (corals, bacteria, fish etc)

B) Synthetic Drugs Chemical synthesis (traditional)

Combinatorial synthesis

C) Semi-Synthetic Drugs
Sources of Drug

The Natural World

Plant drug – opium, belladonna, digitalis

Animal drug – Cod liver oil
Mineral drug – sodium chloride

Natural drug may be used in the crude form or may be

used after extraction and purification of the active
constituent.
Crude drug – digitalis, opium
Purified constituent – digoxin, morphine
Drug from the Natural World
PLANT EXTRACTS

MORPHINE

POPPY CAPSULE
Drug from the Natural World
PLANT EXTRACTS

• CINCHONA BARK - Quinine

CINCHONA
Drug from the Natural World
PLANT EXTRACTS

WILLOW TREE - SALICYLIC ACID

O OH O OH
Acetic
OH anhydride O CH3

Aspirin
Drug from the Natural World
VENOMS AND TOXINS

O
C OH
O
C N

CH3
HS

Captopril
(anti-hypertensive)
Drug from the Natural World
MeO
VENOMS AND TOXINS CH 3
N
HO CH 3
O H

H O
H3 C
N OH
H3 C
OMe

Tubocurarine
(from curare)
Drug from the Natural World
ENDOGENOUS COMPOUNDS

NATURAL LIGANDS FOR RECEPTORS

OH
H
O N
H
Antagonist
HO N OH
Me

HO
ADRENALINE PROPRANOLOL

Me
NH2 H
N NHMe
HN S
HN
N
N
HISTAMINE
CN Antagonist
CIMETIDINE
 Drugs obtained by
biotechnology
• Drugs can also be obtained by
biotechnology.
• For example previously insulin was
obtained from animal sources. Now-
a-days insulin is obtained from
bacteria with the help of
biotechnology.
Drugs from the Synthetic World

O
H2N S NH2
O

SULFANILAMIDE
Drugs from the Synthetic World

TNT

ONO2
ONO2
ONO2
Semi-Synthetic Drugs

The drug is obtained by partial synthesis starting

from a natural constituent.
Example – semi-synthetic antibiotics like
amoxicillin, heroin from morphine.