Dextrococaine is a chemical compound that is used as a local anesthetic. The word is spelled using the accepted rules of the English language and can be broken down into its individual sounds using IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "dek-struh" is pronounced as "dɛkstrə," while the second syllable "koh-kayn" is pronounced as "koʊkeɪn." Together, they form the term "dɛkstrəˈkoʊkeɪn," which accurately reflects the spelling of the word.
Dextrococaine is a term mainly used in the field of pharmacology to refer to a specific stereoisomer of the cocaine molecule. Stereoisomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms. In the case of dextrococaine, it specifically refers to the (+)-cocaine enantiomer or the "right-handed" version of the cocaine molecule.
Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant, and it exists in nature as a racemic mixture of two mirror image isomers: dextrococaine and levococaine. The enantiomers have different pharmacological properties, with dextrococaine being the stronger and more active form. Dextrococaine exhibits a greater affinity for dopamine reuptake transporters in the brain, leading to increased levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure.
The term "dextrococaine" is often used in scientific literature to specifically describe the effects, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and interactions of the (+)-cocaine enantiomer. It is worth noting that the recreational cocaine available on the illicit market is typically a racemic mixture, containing equal amounts of both enantiomers. However, research on the separate isomers helps to better understand the specific effects and mechanisms of cocaine's action in the body.
Overall, dextrococaine is a term that distinguishes the right-handed stereoisomer of cocaine and highlights its distinct pharmacological properties.
A dextrorotatory form of cocaine, differing in several respects from ordinary cocaine, which is levorotatory; its hydrochloride is less soluble than the official salt.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "dextrococaine" is a combination of two components: "dextro-" and "cocaine".
1. "Dextro-" comes from the Latin word "dexter", meaning "right" or "on the right side". In chemistry and pharmacology, it refers to the right-handed isomer or enantiomer of a compound. In this case, it indicates the specific stereoisomer of cocaine.
2. "Cocaine" is derived from the coca plant's scientific name, Erythroxylum coca. The alkaloid compound was first extracted from the coca leaves by Albert Niemann in 1859.
Therefore, the term "dextrococaine" specifically denotes the dextrorotatory isomer of cocaine, which has a particular optical rotation to the right.