Paracetamol: History, Structure and Dangers

Paracetamol History, Structure and DangersWhat is Paracetamol?Depending on where you live in the world, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide is know as Paracetamol or acetaminophen with the molecular formula of C8H9NO2. Paracetamol or acetaminophen belongs to a group of euphonys which have painkiller ( spite reliever) and antipyretic (fever reliever) properties. For these reasons it is used for experience a person of mild to cut back pain including headache, joint pain and toothache. In Addition to controlling fever (high temperature) Paracetamol can also be used to relive symptoms of cold.History of ParacetamolThe history and discovery of Paracetamol is fascinating as it was discovered by accident when a alike(p) molecule acetanilide was put to use as an analgesic and antipyretic medicine in the late 1800s.At the approach of 20th century the discovery and synthesis of medicine was based on pure chance, as scientists randomly tested untested compounds on test subjects (mainly humans , without any awareness of their possible gradient effects) to examine both their positive and negative effects. The discovery of Paracetamol can be linked with the discovery of acetanilide which was the first derivative of aniline (see ensure 1.1) to be found to contain analgesic and antipyretic properties. physique 1.1 shows the anatomical mental synthesis of the organic compound anilineAcetanilide was synthesised when the aniline gained a unessential amide group. This occurred when aniline was re maped with ethanoic anhydride, fareing in the production of C8H6NCOCH3 and CH3COOH (ethanoic acid). The equation for the re proceedingion is as follows C6H5NH2 + (CH3CO)2O C6H5NHCOCH3 + CH3COOH curtly after the discovery acetanilide (see flesh 1.2) was produced to be used in therapy in 1886, and it remained in use for several years due to how trashy it was to mass produce. The painkilling properties of the synthetic organic compound acetanilide were impressive only it had to b e abandoned due its high toxicity in moderate doses. For example, it was known to interfere with the function of the oxygen-carrying pigment haemoglobin which caused cyanosis in patients.Figure 1.2 shows the structure of the organic compound acetanilideAs a result a new search began which lead to the discovery of a new derivative called N-4-(-Ethoxyphenyl)ethanamide(see suppose 1.3). To their surprise the new derivative contained the same analgesic and antipyretic properties but was less toxic than acetanilide. The first synthesis was describe in 1878 by Harmon Northrop Morse (3). It wasnt until 1886 that this new drug was marketed down the stairs the name acetphenetidin. It remains in use ever since but the habitude has declined due its undesirable side effects on the liver. Although Phenacetin I still be used today in some split of the country, it was banned in USA by the FDA in 1983 after research showed it had adverse side effects such as kidney ill-treat.Figure 1.3 sh ows the structure of the organic compound PhenacetinFinally, in 1893 a German doc Joseph von Mering managed to improve phenacetin resulting in the production of Paracetamol. Unfortunately, Joseph Von Mering mistakenly thought that Paracetamol had similar adverse effects as acetanilide did and in that locationfore ignored the discovery. It wasnt until the 1940s when this misunderstanding was removed after research showed that Paracetamol was the main metabolite of phenacetin (see figure 1.4) and potentially caused the desired side effects. Further studies showed that it was the other(a) baby bird metabolite that caused the negative effects and that Paracetamol was responsible for the positive effects. This finally led to Paracetamol cosmos put to use a synthetic medicine in 1953 and its being used ever since.Today Paracetamol is manufactured by a upshot of different pharmaceutical companies with different brand names. In the UK alone there are more than ninety over the counter m edicines which contain Paracetamol. Paracetamol is sometimes combined with other medicines such as decongestants (provides relief for blocked nose).Figure 1.4 Shows Paracetamol as the major metabolite (99%) of Phenacetin (5)Mechanism of actionFor reducing temperature Paracetamol is believed to act on a region of the brain called the hypothalamus which is responsible for regulation of soundbox temperature. Paracetamol reduces pain by directly interfering with chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. These prostaglandins act much like hormones (chemical messengers) but do not move to other sites, they remain in the cell in which they were synthesised in. Prostaglandin are thought to be involved in the dilation of blood vessels which cause pain. Paracetamol is recognised by the enzyme which is responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins in the body. Paracetamol inhibits the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Therefore, reduction in the number of prostaglandin reduce the awaren ess to pain in the body.Dangers of ParacetamolParacetamol is a potent medicine which is easily available without any prescription, even small overdoses can be fatal, because it is metabolised into both toxic and non-toxic products in the liver. For this reason, Paracetamol is often used as self-annihilation drug. Paracetamol overdose can cause liver failure because it is a hepatoxic, which representation even in moderate doses it can cause damage to hepatocytes (liver cells). spate who use Paracetamol as means of suicide die from liver damage and most of the poisoning is due to a metabolite of Paracetamol called benzoquinone amine (see figure 1.5).Quinone amine is dangerously toxic and is eliminated from the body in the liver by a reaction with glutathione (a tripeptide). Insufficient levels of glutathione means the toxic quinone amine testament not be eliminated and starts to build up. Eventually it will start to react with nucleic acids and cellular proteins in the liver caus ing unchangeable damage and eventually death.ReferencesCSID5889, http//www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.5889.html (accessed 1947, Oct 31, 2014)CSID880, http//www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.880.html (accessed 2047, Oct 31, 2014)H. N. Morse (1878). Ueber eine neue Darstellungsmethode der Acetylamidophenole. Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft 11 (1) 232233. inside10.1002/cber.18780110151CSID4590, http//www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.4590.html (accessed 1621, Nov 1, 2014)Ellis, Frank. Paracetamol a curriculum recource . RSC, http//www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/content/filerepository/CMP/00/000/047/Paracetamol_web.pdf. (accessed 211, Nov 1, 2014.