This article is on the pharmacological viewpoint of drugs & medicines.

1. DRUGS & MEDICINE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Jony Mallik
Industrial Pharmacist
jonymallik@ymail.com
Drug
A drug is a single chemical entity with known chemical structure.
A drug is an article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of
disease and/or an article (other than food) intended to affect the structure or function of the human
body. (US-FDA & WHO)
A drug is a chemical substance or an active pharmaceutical ingredient that is able to provide
biological response if it is administered as a definite form!
Role Name of Drugs Purpose of use/ Disease
Diagnosis Barium Sulfate
Ethiodized oil
Iohexol
Iobenguane
Help coating the inside of your esophagus, stomach, or intestines
which allows them to be seen more clearly on a CT scan or other
radiologic (x-ray) examination.
A contrast agent used in imaging procedures.
A contrast agent for intrathecal administration used in
myelography and contrast enhancement for computerized
tomography.
A radiopharmaceutical agent used for the diagnosis of primary
and metastatic pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma.
Prevention Vaccines
BCG (Bacillus Calmette–
Guérin)
HPV
MMR
Tuberculosis
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Measles- Rubella
Treatment Paracetamol,Naproxen,
Dicofenac
Amoxicillin,
Azithormycin,
Ciprofloxacin
Ganciclovir, Zidovudine
Analgesic, antipyretic & anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Antiviral

2. DRUGS & MEDICINE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Jony Mallik
Industrial Pharmacist
jonymallik@ymail.com
Nomenclature of drug
Drug nomenclature is a systematic naming of pharmaceutical drugs. Every drugs has three name:
1. Chemical Name
2. Generic or Non-proprietary name
3. Brand/Trade Name/Proprietary
Chemical name: These are given according to the chemical constitution of drug. Chemical names are
long and too troublesome to remember.
Generic Name: Drugs are also known by generic, non- proprietary or official names. This is the name
given to a drug after it might have been found to be of therapeutic use. It is the name with which the
drug is described in official books of reference like pharmacopoeias. It is also the name that is
authoritatively accepted by a scientific body.
Brand Name: The brand (also known as proprietary or trade name) is the name given to a drug by
its manufacturer. A drug may have several brand names, depending on the number of manufacturers.
Chemical Name Generic Name Brand Name Chemical Structure
N-(4-
Hydroxyphenyl)acetamide
Or
N-(4-
hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide
Or
N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
(APAP)
Paracetamol (UK-
BAN)
Acetaminophen
(USAN)
Napa, Ace, Reset
(Bangladesh)
5-Methoxy-2-{[(4-methoxy-3,5-
dimethyl-2-
pyridinyl)methyl]sulfinyl}-1H-
benzimidazole
Omeprazole Omegut,
Xeldrin, Ometid
(Bangladesh)

3. DRUGS & MEDICINE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Jony Mallik
Industrial Pharmacist
jonymallik@ymail.com
Sources of Drugs
The major sources of drugs can be grouped into the following-
 Plant sources
 Animal sources
 Mineral/ Earth sources
 Microbiological sources
 Semi synthetic sources/ Synthetic sources
 Recombinant DNA technology
Plant Sources
Plant source is the oldest source of drugs. Most of the drugs in ancient times were derived from
plants. Almost all parts of the plants are used i.e. leaves, stem, bark, fruits and roots.
Plant part Drugs
Leaves Digoxin, digitoxin (from Digitalis purpurea/foxglove plant); atropine
(from Atropa belladonna)
Flowers Vincristine, vinblastine (from Vinca rosea)
Fruits Physostigmine (from Physostigma venenosum/calabar bean)
Seeds Strychnine (from Nux vomica); physostigmine
(from Physostigma venenosum/calabar bean)
Roots Emetine (from Cephaelis ipecacuanha); reserpine (from Rauwolfa
serpentina)
Bark Quinine (from Cinchona); atropine (from Atropa belladonna)
Stem Tubocurarine (from Chondrodendron tomentosum)
Animal Sources
 Blood of animals is used in preparation of vaccines.
 Stomach tissue contains pepsin and trypsin, which are digestive juices used in treatment
of peptic diseases in the past.
 Sheep thyroid is a source of thyroxin, used in hypertension.
 Cod liver is used as a source of vitamin A and D.
 Anterior pituitary is a source of pituitary gonadotropins, used in treatment of infertility.
 Pancreas is a source of Insulin, used in treatment of Diabetes.
 Urine of pregnant women gives human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) used for the
treatment of infertility.

4. DRUGS & MEDICINE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Jony Mallik
Industrial Pharmacist
jonymallik@ymail.com
Mineral Sources
 Iodine is antiseptic. Iodine supplements are also used.
 Gold salts are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
 Iron is used in treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
 Mercurial salts are used in Syphilis.
 Zinc is used as zinc supplement. Zinc oxide paste is used in wounds and in eczema.
 Fluorine has antiseptic properties.
 Borax has antiseptic properties as well.
 Selenium as selenium sulphide is used in anti-dandruff shampoos.
Microbiological Sources
 Penicillin produced by Penicillium chrysogenum
 Streptomycin from Streptomyces griseus,
 Chloramphenicol from Streptomyces venezuelae,
 Neomycin from Streptomyces fradiae,
 Bacitracin from Bacillus subtilis
Synthetic Sources
Synthetic drug is produced using chemical synthesis, which includes a rearrangement of the chemical
derivatives to form a new compound. The synthetic sources of drugs is the result of the laboratory
research and advanced knowledge.
One of the earliest synthetic drugs was sulphonamide, which began with the synthesis of prontosil
dye. Other examples include acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin or ASA), oral antidiabetics, antihistamines,
thiazide diuretics, chloroquine, chlorpromazine, general and local anaesthetics, paracetamol,
phenytoin etc.
Semi-synthetic Sources
Semi-synthetic drugs are neither completely natural nor completely synthetic. They are a hybrid and
are generally made by chemically modifying substances that are available from natural source to
improve its potency, efficacy and/or reduce side effects. Examples of semi-synthetic medicine include
heroin from morphine, bromoscopolamine from scopolamine, homatropine from atropine, ampicillin
from penicillin, apomorphine, diacetyl morphine, ethinyl estradiol, homatropine, ampicillin and
methyl testosterone etc.

5. DRUGS & MEDICINE IN PHARMACOLOGY
Jony Mallik
Industrial Pharmacist
jonymallik@ymail.com
Biosynthetic Sources/ Recombinant DNA Technology
Recombinant DNA technology involves cleavage of DNA by enzyme restriction endonucleases. The
desired gene is coupled to rapidly replicating DNA (viral, bacterial or plasmid). The new genetic
combination is inserted into the bacterial cultures which allow production of vast amount of genetic
material. Examples include recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine, recombinant insulin and others.
Medicine
A medicine is any drug or other preparation that is used for the treatment or prevention of disease. It is the
collection of both APIs & excipients.
MEDICINE = ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS + EXCIPIENTS
Drug vs. Medicine
Criteria Drug Medicine
Definition A drug is an article intended for use in
the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
prevention & treatment of disease.
A medicine is any drug or other
preparation that is used for the treatment
or prevention of disease.
Form & Dose Drug doesn’t have any definite form &
dose.
Medicine has a definite form & dose.
Potency Drugs are the active potent
compound.
Medicines are the administrative form of
drug.
Compare All drugs are not medicines. All medicines are drugs
Example Paracetamol, Omeprazole Napa- Paracetamol 500mg Tablet
Seclo- Omeprazole 20mg Capsule (Pellets)
References:
1. https://go.drugbank.com/categories/DBCAT000559
2. https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent
3. https://www.pharmapproach.com/drug-nomenclature-how-does-a-drug-get-its-name/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omeprazole#:~:text=Omeprazole%20contains%20a%20tricoordinated%20sulfinyl,equal%20
mixture%20of%20the%20two.
5. http://howmed.net/pharmacology/sources-of-drugs/
NOTE: This write-up is for knowledge and acquiring ideas on drugs & medicines form pharmacological viewpoint.
Do not use this whole article or any part on the website or publication.