Abstract

THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF STEREOISOMERS

Prof, Dr. S. S. Agrawal, Tanya Kumar* and Mohd Mazhar

Abstract

Stereoisomers are molecules that are identical in atomic constitution and bonding, but differ in the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms. They are often readily distinguished by biological systems, however, and may have different pharmacokinetic properties (absorption; distribution, biotransformation. and excretion) and quantitatively or qualitatively different pharmacologic or toxicologic effects.Approximately 50% of marketed drugs are chiral having enantiomers and approximately 50% of these are mixtures of enantiomers rather than single enantiomers. One member of the pair may show inactivity or toxicty compared to the other one. E.g. granulocytopenia is related to the d-isomer of levodopa; Vomiting is caused by the d-isomer of levamisole; and myasthenia gravis symptoms were no longer observed when the d-isomer was removed from d,lcarnitine) etc.[1] This review article emphasis on the application of optical isomers in medical research&on issues relating to the study and pharmaceutical activityof individual enantiomers and racemates.

Keywords: enantiomer, optical isomer,pharmokinetic properties,arrangement of atoms.