Ibuprofen
IUPAC Name: (RS)-2-(4-(2-Methylpropyl )phenyl)propanoic acid
Molecular formula: C13H18O2
Common names: Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin
Medical uses
Ibuprofen is a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is commonly used primarily to treat fever, mild to moderate pain (painful menstruation, joint pain, sprains, headaches) and inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.
How does it work?
When ibuprofen is ingested, it is broken and absorbed into the bloodstream through the wall of the GI tract. Ibuprofen affects two cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2). These enzymes form prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, which is released when cells are damaged. Prostaglandins cause the body’s response to pain, including inflammation, redness, increased temperature, and lower pain threshold. Ibuprofen attaches to the active site of COX-1 and COX-2, preventing the synthesis of prostaglandins. However, the enzymes eventually reject the …show more content…
Although they and look the same,have many identical properties, including identical boiling points, freezing points, and solubility.
Although these isomers are nearly the same, they interact with molecules in different ways. The S+ form of ibuprofen is pharmacologically active, or produces the desired pain-relieving effects. The R- form is unable to block the formation of prostaglandins because it is unable to bond to the active site of the COX enzymes.
Interestingly enough, the body has an enzyme that is able to convert the R- isomer of ibuprofen to the S+ isomer. Thus, a typical 400 mg dose of ibuprofen contains 200 mg of the S+ isomer and 200 mg of the R- isomer, 60% of which is synthesized to S+ ibuprofen by the body. Since stereospecific synthesis, or producing only one specific isomer, is more expensive and time consuming and enzymes in the body are able to convert the R- isomer to the S+ isomer, ibuprofen is usually sold as a mix of the two
IUPAC Name: (RS)-2-(4-(2-Methylpropyl )phenyl)propanoic acid
Molecular formula: C13H18O2
Common names: Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin
Medical uses
Ibuprofen is a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is commonly used primarily to treat fever, mild to moderate pain (painful menstruation, joint pain, sprains, headaches) and inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.
How does it work?
When ibuprofen is ingested, it is broken and absorbed into the bloodstream through the wall of the GI tract. Ibuprofen affects two cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2). These enzymes form prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, which is released when cells are damaged. Prostaglandins cause the body’s response to pain, including inflammation, redness, increased temperature, and lower pain threshold. Ibuprofen attaches to the active site of COX-1 and COX-2, preventing the synthesis of prostaglandins. However, the enzymes eventually reject the …show more content…
Although they and look the same,have many identical properties, including identical boiling points, freezing points, and solubility.
Although these isomers are nearly the same, they interact with molecules in different ways. The S+ form of ibuprofen is pharmacologically active, or produces the desired pain-relieving effects. The R- form is unable to block the formation of prostaglandins because it is unable to bond to the active site of the COX enzymes.
Interestingly enough, the body has an enzyme that is able to convert the R- isomer of ibuprofen to the S+ isomer. Thus, a typical 400 mg dose of ibuprofen contains 200 mg of the S+ isomer and 200 mg of the R- isomer, 60% of which is synthesized to S+ ibuprofen by the body. Since stereospecific synthesis, or producing only one specific isomer, is more expensive and time consuming and enzymes in the body are able to convert the R- isomer to the S+ isomer, ibuprofen is usually sold as a mix of the two