ARSPHENAMINE Meaning and
Definition
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Arsphenamine, also known as Salvarsan or compound 606, is a synthetic organic compound used in medicine as a treatment for syphilis. It was the first drug specifically developed for the purpose of combating this sexually transmitted infection.
Arsphenamine belongs to the group of compounds called organic arsenicals, which possess a chemical structure containing arsenic. It was first synthesized in the early 1900s by the German chemist Paul Ehrlich. The compound was created by modifying the structure of a dye molecule, resulting in a compound that exhibited potent antimicrobial properties against the bacterium responsible for syphilis, Treponema pallidum.
When administered, arsphenamine works by interfering with the metabolism and reproduction of the bacteria, leading to their destruction. It is generally administered through intramuscular injection. Although its effectiveness against syphilis is generally acknowledged, it can cause side effects such as fever, rashes, and gastrointestinal disturbances, and requires careful dosage regulation. Despite these limitations, arsphenamine was a significant breakthrough in the treatment of syphilis and revolutionized the field of chemotherapy.
With the advent of antibiotics, arsphenamine was eventually replaced as the primary treatment for syphilis. However, its discovery and development paved the way for future advancements in antimicrobial therapies, opening up new possibilities for the treatment of various infectious diseases.
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Name under which salvarsan (dioxydiaminoarsenobenzol) is manufactured and sold under license of the Federal Trade Commission in the United States.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ARSPHENAMINE
- arphenamine
- arsphnamine
- arsphenamhne
- arsphenami.e
- arsphenamife
- arsphenamile
- arsphenamioe
- arsphenaminu
- arsphenaminm
- arsphenamina
- arsphenaming
- a rsphenamine
- ar sphenamine
- arsph enamine
- arsphe namine
- arsphen amine
- arsphena mine
- arsphenam ine
- arsphenami ne
- arsphenamin e
- arsphenmin
Etymology of ARSPHENAMINE
The word "arsphenamine" is derived from Greek and Latin roots.
The "ars-" prefix comes from the Greek word "ársenikón", which means "masculine". This is because the chemical element arsenic was associated with masculinity in ancient times.
The second part of the word, "-phenamine", comes from Latin. In Latin, "phen-" is a combining form of the word "phainós" which means "shining" or "bright". The "-amine" suffix indicates that it is an organic compound containing an amine group.
Combining these parts, "arsphenamine" literally means "masculine shining amine" or "bright masculine compound". This name was given to the synthetic drug commonly known as Salvarsan, which was one of the first effective treatments for syphilis.
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