Understanding DRUGS

NSAIDs were first discovered accidentally in the 1890s when a scientist testing acetanilide noticed it reduced fever and pain. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was the first NSAID, derived from willow bark..

Easy to remember

‎Mechanism of Action of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
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‎Anti-inflammatory drugs are medications used to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling, and fever in the body. Most commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Diclofenac, and Naproxen.
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‎1. Release of Arachidonic Acid
‎When body tissues are injured or infected, the cell membrane phospholipids are broken down, leading to the release of arachidonic acid.
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‎2. Role of Cyclooxygenase (COX) Enzymes
‎Arachidonic acid is converted by the enzyme Cyclooxygenase (COX) into substances called prostaglandins.
‎There are two major forms of the enzyme:
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‎COX-1: Normally present in many tissues; involved in protecting the stomach lining, maintaining kidney function, and supporting platelet function.
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‎COX-2: Produced mainly during inflammation and responsible for the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins.
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‎3. Formation of Prostaglandins
‎The COX enzymes convert arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, which are chemical mediators that cause:
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‎Pain
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‎Swelling
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‎Redness
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‎Heat
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‎Fever
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‎These prostaglandins are responsible for the symptoms seen during inflammation.
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‎4. Action of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
‎*NSAIDs act by inhibiting the activity of COX enzymes (COX-1 and/or COX-2).
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‎*By blocking these enzymes:
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‎*The conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins is reduced.
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‎*The production of inflammatory mediators decreases.
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‎5. Result of COX Inhibition
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‎*Because prostaglandin synthesis is reduced, the following effects occur:
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‎*Decreased inflammation
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‎*Reduced pain (analgesic effect)
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‎*Reduced fever (antipyretic effect)
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‎*Reduced swelling at the site of injury

Anti-inflammatory drugs (also called anti-inflammatories) are medications that reduce inflammation — the body's response to injury, infection, or irritation that causes swelling, redness, heat, pain, and sometimes fever. They are among the most commonly used drugs worldwide for conditions like arthritis, headaches, muscle strains, menstrual cramps, and chronic autoimmune diseases.
NSAIDs dominate the market (about 40% share in recent analyses) because they are effective.

Mechanism of Action (Simplified)
Most NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes:
- COX-2 → drives inflammation, pain, and fever (main target for relief).
- COX-1 → protects stomach lining and helps blood clotting (inhibition here causes many side effects).
Selective COX-2 inhibitors (like celecoxib) aim to reduce stomach risks but may increase cardiovascular concerns in some people.
Common Uses
- Short-term: Headaches, toothache, back pain, sports injuries, fever, post-surgery pain.
- Long-term/chronic: Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tendonitis, inflammatory bowel disease.

Side Effects and Risks
NSAIDs (most frequent issues):
- Stomach upset, heartburn, ulcers, bleeding (take with food; higher risk with long-term/high-dose use).
- Increased blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke risk (especially in people with heart disease).
- Kidney problems, fluid retention.
- Allergic reactions (rare but serious).
*Corticosteroids (long-term): Weight gain, osteoporosis, high blood sugar, weakened immunity, mood changes.
* DMARDs/Biologics: Increased infection risk, liver issues, low blood counts.

The Plant: O***m Poppy
The source is the latex (milky sap) from unripe seed pods of the o***m poppy, a beautiful flowering plant cultivated for thousands of year Historical & Ethnobotanical Roots

Ancient Use: O***m (dried latex containing morphine and other alkaloids) was used as early as 3400 BC by Sumerians in Mesopotamia (called "hul gil" – plant of joy).
- Spread to Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for pain relief, sleep, and diarrhea.
- In the Islamic Golden Age and later in China/India, it was a common medicine.
- Traditional knowledge of scoring poppy pods to collect latex guided early pharmacology.

Modern Discovery
In 1804–1805, German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner isolated the active compound from o***m and named it morphine (after Morpheus, Greek god of dreams). This was the first alkaloid ever isolated from a plant—a breakthrough in drug discovery that kicked off modern pharmacology.

Chemical Structure & Pharmacology
Morphine is a natural alkaloid with this classic structure (the basis for many synthetic opioids).
Mechanism of Action: Morphine primarily binds to μ-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing pain signals, inducing euphoria, and causing side effects like respiratory depression.

Today
Morphine remains a cornerstone for severe pain management (e.g., cancer, surgery) but also highlights risks of dependence. Its story shows how ancient ethnobotanical wisdom directly shaped modern medicine.