Chemistry - CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE Question with Solution | TestHub

Alkaloids are complex nitrogeneous substances, isolated from plants, which when administrated into the body produce physiological action. The alkaloid reserpine (isolated from Rauvolfia serpentina) is a powerful tranquilizer. It reduces pulse rate and lowers the blood pressure. Synthetic tranquilizers are mostly barbituric acid derivates (e.g veronal, luminal, seconal, amytal and nembutal). Other tranquilizers which are not barbituric acid derivatives are chlordiazepoxide, equanil, meprobamate, valium (diazepam), etc. Opium alkaloids such as morphine and codeine are powerful analgesics (reduce pain). Heroin which is morphine diacetate is a widely used narcotic analgesics, i.e., aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, etc. are also widely used. The alkaloid quinine is specific for malaria fever. A number of other synthetic drugs such as chloroquine, paraquine and primaquine are also used as antimalarials. Other antipyretics (which reduce body temperature during high fever) are aspirin, phenacetin and paracetamol. Typhoid fever is cured by chloramphenicol which is bacteriostatic antibiotic. Other bacteriostatic antibiotics are tetracycline and erythromycin. Penicillin, aminoglycosides and ofloxacin are bactericidal antibiotics. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline are broad spectrum antibiotics (i.e., they are effective against several harmful bacteria). Penicillin, however has a narrow spectrum. Besides antibiotics· other antibacterial drugs are sulpha drugs i.e. sulphadiazine (used for dysentry, urinary and respiratory infections), sulphapyridine (used for treatment of pneumonia and sulphagunandine (used for treatment of several bacillary dysentry). Some quinolone derivatives such as norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin have also been used as antibacterial or antimicrobial drugs.