How Do You Spell ATOXYL?

Pronunciation: [ˈatəksˌɪl] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Atoxyl" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as [əˈtɒksɪl]. The sound of the first syllable is the schwa sound, which is pronounced like the "u" in "but". The second syllable contains the sound of "ks" followed by the "ɪl" sound, which is similar to the "ill" sound in "pill". Atoxyl is a toxic organic compound that was once used to treat diseases such as sleeping sickness and syphilis until safer alternatives were developed.

ATOXYL Meaning and Definition

1. Atoxyl is a noun term that refers to a chemical compound and an arsenic-based drug that was first used as a treatment for sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis. The compound was originally synthesized in the late 19th century and was derived from a combination of arsenic and an organic component.

   The primary use of atoxyl was in the early 20th century when it was widely employed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of trypanosome infections, particularly caused by Trypanosoma brucei, which is the main causative agent of sleeping sickness. Atoxyl was administered to patients either orally or through injections, targeting the parasites in the bloodstream.

   However, atoxyl was later discovered to have toxic side effects, such as causing damage to the optic nerve and potentially leading to blindness. As a result, its usage as a treatment for sleeping sickness significantly declined over time.

   Despite its diminished medicinal relevance, atoxyl still holds historical significance due to its role in the development of chemotherapy. It was one of the first chemotherapeutic agents used against a specific infectious disease, paving the way for the discovery and development of other, less toxic drugs that followed.

   In summary, atoxyl is an arsenic-based compound that was used as a treatment for sleeping sickness. Although it was effective against the disease, its severe side effects limited its usage, and it is now primarily recognized for its important role in the early development of chemotherapy.

2. Trade name of a sodium salt of arsenic acid in which one hydroxyl group has been replaced by aniline; a white crystalline powder, employed in the treatment of syphilis, malaria, and trypanosomiasis in doses of gr. 1/2-3 (0.03-0.2), or gr. 6(0.4) by hypodermic injection every second day. It is called also arsamine.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for ATOXYL

• wtoxyl
• stoxyl
• toxyl
• etoxyl
• atoxyl
• ztoxyl
• qtoxyl
• aroxyl
• afoxyl
• agoxyl
• ayoxyl
• a6oxyl
• a5oxyl
• atixyl
• atkxyl
• atlxyl
• atpxyl
• at0xyl
• at9xyl
• atozyl

Etymology of ATOXYL

The word "Atoxyl" has its etymology rooted in the field of medicine. It was coined by combining two elements: "a-" and "toxyl".

The prefix "a-" is derived from the Greek language and functions as a negating or opposite element. In this case, it eliminates or nullifies the impact of the following element, "toxyl".

The term "toxyl" is derived from "toxic" or "toxin", which refers to a poison or venomous substance that can harm or kill living organisms.

Therefore, "Atoxyl" suggests a substance or compound that lacks toxic or poisonous properties. This term is specifically associated with a synthetic drug called "atoxyl", which was developed in the late 19th century and primarily used to treat the parasitic disease known as African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).