Atebrin, also known as mepacrine, is an antimalarial drug that was commonly used during World War II. The spelling of Atebrin is pronounced as /əˈtɛbrɪn/. The first syllable of the word is pronounced as "uh," followed by a stressed syllable "teb" and ending with an unstressed syllable "rin". The "br" in the middle of the word is spelled with "br" to indicate the /br/ consonant cluster, which is common in English. Overall, Atebrin is a difficult word to spell, but its pronunciation can be easily understood with the help of IPA phonetic transcription.
Atebrin, also known as mepacrine, is a medication that belongs to the group of antimalarial drugs. It is a synthetic chemical compound that was widely used in the past as a prophylactic and treatment for malaria. Atebrin is derived from the compound acridine and was first synthesized in the early 1930s.
As an antimalarial drug, Atebrin acts by interfering with the replication and growth of the Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria. It primarily inhibits the formation of hemozoin, which is a vital pigment necessary for the survival and proliferation of these parasites within the red blood cells.
In addition to its antimalarial properties, Atebrin has also been explored for other medical uses. It has been investigated as an antibacterial agent and was previously used in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease.
However, the use of Atebrin has declined over the years due to the development of more effective and safe alternatives. It is associated with significant side effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, skin discoloration (yellowing), and ocular toxicity causing vision problems, such as corneal deposits. Consequently, Atebrin is no longer a first-line treatment for malaria, and its use is limited to special circumstances.
The word "Atebrin" is derived from "Atebrine", which, in turn, is a trade name for a medication known as mepacrine. The etymology of "Atebrine" can be traced back to a combination of two components: "Ate" and "brine".
The prefix "Ate" in Atebrine comes from the German company IG Farben’s brand name for the antimalarial drug. It is believed to be an abbreviation or acronym, but the exact meaning is not clear. Some speculate that it could be derived from "Antimalarial Therapeutic", "Antimalarial Eradication", or simply be a unique brand name chosen by the company.
The suffix "brine" in Atebrine refers to the saline solution or saltwater used as a medium for dissolving or diluting the medication.