Ephedrine

Ephedrine (EPH) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a decongestant. Chemically, it is an alkaloid derived from various plants in the genus Ephedra (family Ephedraceae). The salt ephedrine hydrochloride has found various uses which utilise its sympathomimetic effect.

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The traditional Chinese herb Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) contains ephedrine as its principal active constituent. The same is true of other herbal products containing extracts from Ephedra species.

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The substance called soma mentioned in old Hindu books such as the Rigveda, may have been ephedra extract.

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Sympathomimetic: Sympathomimetics are a class of drugs whose properties mimic those of a stimulated sympathetic nervous system. As such they increase cardiac output, dilate bronchioles, and usually produce constriction of blood vessels. Sympathomimetics include the naturally occurring substances adrenaline (epinep...

Amine: Amines are organic compounds containing nitrogen as the key atom in the amine functional group. Amines have structures resembling ammonia, where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl groups or other groups where the nitrogen is bonded to a carbon atom in the group (groups symbolized by R...

Alkaloid: An alkaloid is a nitrogenous organic molecule that has a pharmacological effect on humans and animals. The name derives from the word alkaline; originally, the term was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base (an amine in modern terms). Alkaloids are found as secondary metabolites in plants (e...