Sanguinarine is a complex organic compound found in plants such as bloodroot, Chelidonium, and Macleaya. Its spelling can be broken down into phonetic segments to help readers accurately pronounce it: [sæŋgwɪnəriːn]. The first syllable, "sang," rhymes with "hang." The second syllable, "guin," sounds like "gwin." The third syllable, "a," is pronounced like "uh." The final syllable, "rine," rhymes with "bean." Knowing the correct phonetic transcription of sanguinarine is crucial to avoiding confusion or miscommunication when discussing this compound.
Sanguinarine is a noun referring to a toxic alkaloid compound that is found in various plants, particularly in members of the Papaveraceae family. It is derived from the Latin word "sanguis," meaning blood, due to its red color when dissolved in acidic solutions.
With a molecular formula of C20H14NO4, sanguinarine has a characteristic reddish-brown crystalline appearance. It possesses a diverse range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, its toxic nature restricts its practical uses.
Sanguinarine is commonly used in traditional medicine, where it is believed to exhibit antibacterial properties, making it suitable for treating oral infections and promoting oral health. It is also recognized for its potential therapeutic applications in treating various diseases, such as cancer, due to its ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells.
However, caution should be exercised when handling sanguinarine, as it exhibits high toxicity and adverse effects, such as skin irritation, and it can be harmful if ingested or exposed to the eyes. As a result, its use is mostly limited to research laboratories and its concentration and dosage should be carefully regulated when utilized. Additionally, regulatory bodies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have imposed restrictions on sanguinarine-containing products to ensure consumer safety.
A poisonous alkaloid from sanguinaria, employed as a tonic and expectorant in doses of gr. 1/12-1/8 (0.005-0.008).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "sanguinarine" derives from the Latin term "sanguis" meaning "blood". The suffix "-arinus" in Latin is used to create an adjective form, meaning "pertaining to" or "related to". Therefore, "sanguinarine" can be translated to mean "related to blood". This name was given to the compound due to its red color and its historical use in traditional medicine as a blood tonic.