http://www.3dchem.com Molecule of the Month Updates en-gb Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT Copyright: (C) Karl Harrison http://www.3dchem.com 12 http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=458http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=458Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a difunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. With an annual production of 2–3 million tonnes, it is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate. It is prepared by the condensation of acetone (hence the suffix A in the name) with two equivalents of phenol. The reaction is catalyzed by an acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) or a sulfonated polystyrene resin. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=457http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=457Trazodone is a psychoactive drug of the piperazine and triazolopyridine chemical classes that has antidepressant, anxiolytic, and hypnotic properties. It has been advertised that its therapeutic benefits become noticeable within the first week of administration. Trazodone has considerably less prominent side effects in comparison to most of the tricyclic antidepressants and tetracyclic antidepressants. Trazodone was originally discovered and developed in Italy in the 1960s by Angelini research laboratories as a second-generation antidepressant. It was developed according to the mental pain hypothesis, which was postulated from studying patients and which proposes that major depression is associated with a decreased pain threshold.Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=456http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=456Tizanidine ) is a drug that is used as a muscle relaxant. It is a centrally acting α-2 adrenergic agonist. It is used to treat the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by medical problems such as multiple sclerosis, spastic diplegia, back pain, or certain other injuries to the spine or central nervous system. It is also prescribed off-label for migraine headaches, as a sleep aid, and as an anticonvulsant. It is also prescribed for some symptoms of fibromyalgia. Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=455http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=455Tamsulosin is an α1a-selective alpha blocker used in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tamsulosin was developed by Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (technically a misnomer), benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP), and adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia, refers to the increase in size of the prostate in middle-aged and elderly men. Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=454http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=454Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Propofol is also commonly used in veterinary medicine. Propofol was originally developed in the UK by Imperial Chemical Industries as ICI 35868.Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=453http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=453Midazolam is an ultra short-acting benzodiazepine derivative. It has potent anxiolytic, amnestic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, skeletal muscle relaxant, and sedative properties. Midazolam is water-soluble and fat-soluble in physiologic pH. Freely soluble in alcohol and acetone. It is considered an ultra short-acting benzodiazepine, with an elimination half-life of about 2 hours. It is used in some countries for the short term treatment of insomnia and in many countries as a premedication before surgery. It is therefore a very useful drug to use for short minor procedures such as dental extraction. Midazolam was first synthesized in 1976 by Fryer and Walser.Fri, 1 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=452http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=452Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from two of the naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine. Hydrocodone is an orally active narcotic analgesic (pain reliever) and antitussive (cough suppressant). It is commonly available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form, and is often compounded with other analgesics like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Hydrocodone was first synthesized in Germany in 1920[1] and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on 23 March 1943 for sale in the United States and Canada under the brand name Hycodan.Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=451http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=451Temazepam is an intermediate-acting 3-hydroxy benzodiazepine. It is generally prescribed for the short-term treatment of sleeplessness in patients who have difficulty maintaining sleep. Temazepam is not effective for induction of sleep. In addition, temazepam has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties.Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=444http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=444Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). It has a number of commercial and possible biomedical uses. Chitosan is produced commercially by deacetylation of chitin , which is the structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, etc.). Chitosan's properties allow it to rapidly clot blood, and has recently gained approval in the USA for use in bandages and other hemostatic agents. Chitosan purified from shrimp shells is used in a granular hemostatic product, Celox, made by Medtrade Biopolymers Inc. of Crewe, England Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=450http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=450Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. It belongs to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenes. It is classified as a xanthophyll, which means "yellow leaves". Like many carotenoids, it is a colorful, fat/oil-soluble pigment. Astaxanthin can be found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. Currently, the primary natural source for astaxanthin is haematococcus pluvialis (microalge). It seems to accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in nature; commercially more than 40 g of astaxanthin per kilo of dry biomass. The commercial production of astaxanthin comes from both natural and synthetic sources. Synthetic astaxanthin fetches $2000 a kilogram on the market, while the natural product is sold for over $7000 a kilo.Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=449http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=449Tretinoin is the acid form of vitamin A and so also known as all-trans retinoic acid or ATRA. It is a drug commonly used to treat acne vulgaris and keratosis pilaris. It is available as a cream or gel (brand names Aberela, Renova, Retin-A, Avita). Tretinoin is most commonly used as a form of acne treatment. It was the first retinoid developed for this type of topical use. Tretinoin is the best studied retinoid in the treatment of photoaging. ITopical tretinoin is also used to treat and reduce the appearance of stretch marks by increasing collagen production in the dermis.Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=448http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=448Brilliant Blue FCF, also known under commercial names, is a colorant for foods and other substances to induce a color change. It is denoted by E number E133 and has a color index of 42090. It has the appearance of a reddish-blue powder. It is soluble in water, and the solution has a maximum absorption at about 630 nanometer. It is a synthetic dye derived from coal tar. It can be combined with tartrazine (E102) to produce various shades of green.Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=447http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=447Ecdysone is a steroidal prohormone of the major insect molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone, which is secreted from the prothoracic glands. Insect molting hormones (ecdysone and its homologues) are generally called ecdysteroids. Ecdysteroids act as moulting hormones of arthropods but also occur in other related phyla where they can play different roles. Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=446http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=44620-Hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone or 20E) is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormone which controls the ecdysis (moulting) and metamorphosis of arthropods. It is therefore one of the most common moulting hormones in insects, crabs, etc. It is also a phytoecdysteroid produced by various plants, including Cyanotis vaga, where its purpose is presumably to disrupt the development and reproduction of insect pests. Ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) regulate larval molts, onset of puparium formation, and metamorphosis. Being that these hormones are hydrophobic, they traverse lipid membranes and permeate the tissues of an organism.Sun, 7 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=445http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=445Quercetin is a flavonoid and, to be more specific, a flavonol. It is the aglycone form of a number of other flavonoid glycosides, such as rutin and quercitrin, found in citrus fruit, buckwheat and onions. Quercetin forms the glycosides quercitrin and rutin together with rhamnose and rutinose, respectively. It is also found in many dietary supplements.Sat, 9 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=443http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=443Methoxyisoflavone is a member of the family of flavonoids (isoflavones). In a 1979 U.S. patent, the developers of this substance claim, based on preliminary animal research, that it possesses muscle-building and bone-building (anabolic) effects without the side effects seen with either androgenic (male) hormones or estrogenic (female) hormones. Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=442http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=442Ipriflavone is a synthetic isoflavone which is used to maintain bone density and to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It is not used to treat osteoporosis. It slows down the action of the osteoclasts (bone-eroding cells), allowing the osteoblasts (bone-building cells) to build up bone mass. Plants use isoflavones and their derivatives as phytoalexin compounds to ward off disease-causing pathogenic fungi and other microbes. In addition, soybean uses isoflavones to stimulate soil-microbe rhizobium to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules.Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=441http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=441Dabigatran is an anticoagulant from the class of the direct thrombin inhibitors. It is being studied for various clinical indications, for some of which it may replace warfarin as the preferred anticoagulant. It is orally administered as the prodrug dabigatran etexilate (marketed as Pradaxa since April in European countries and Pradax in Canada). It was developed by pharmaceutical company Boehringer-Ingelheim.Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=440http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=440Creatine is nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to muscle and nerve cells. Creatine was identified in 1832 when Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered it as a component of skeletal muscle, which he later named creatine after the Greek word for flesh, Kreas. In the human body, approximately half of the daily creatine is biosynthesized from three different amino acids - arginine, glycine, and methionine. The rest is taken in by alimentary sources; mainly from fresh fish and meat. Ninety-five percent of creatine is later stored in the skeletal muscles, with the rest predominantly in the brain, heart, testes, inner ear and hair cells.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=439http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=439Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid prohormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands, the gonads, adipose tissue, brain and in the skin (by an autocrine mechanism). DHEA is the precursor of androstenedione, which can undergo further conversion to produce the androgen testosterone and the estrogens estrone and estradiol. Regular exercise is known to increase DHEA production in the bodyTue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT