Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

• Abstergent — A substance, solution, or pharmaceutical preparation capable of cleansing biological tissues, wounds, or ulcerations by dissolving and removing dead cells, secretions, and impurities; (as an adjective) possessing purifying, detersive, and healing properties on the skin or mucous membranes.
• Acidogenic — Producing, generating, or promoting the formation of acids. In medical microbiology and dentistry, the term describes bacteria capable of metabolizing carbohydrates and secreting acidic compounds into the surrounding medium; in a nutritional context, it defines substances or foods that increase the body's acid load following digestion and cellular metabolism.
• Aerosolization — The act of aerosolizing and its result; a physical, mechanical, or experimental process through which a liquid or solid substance is transformed into microscopic particles suspended in air or a gaseous medium. In medicine, it represents the fundamental operating technique of nebulizers to allow efficient drug delivery directly into the pulmonary alveoli.
• Ajmalină — An alkaloid extracted from the root of the tropical plant Rauwolfia serpentina, used in medicine as a class Ia antiarrhythmic agent; it acts by blocking sodium channels in myocardial cell membranes, thereby prolonging the heart's refractory period. It is primarily utilized for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of Brugada syndrome (the ajmaline challenge test) and in the emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardias induced by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
• Antalgic — Having the property to calm, diminish, or suppress the sensation of pain; analgesic. As a noun, it denotes any medicinal substance or pharmaceutical preparation administered to block the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous system without causing loss of consciousness.
• Antiblennorrhagic — Combating, preventing, or curing blennorrhagia (gonorrhea); a pharmaceutical substance, medication, or antiseptic and antimicrobial treatment specially designed to destroy the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. In a therapeutic sense, the term describes the specific properties of certain antibiotics or topical solutions used historically and modernly in protocols to combat sexually transmitted infections.
• Anti-cavity — Preventing, combating, or halting the onset and progression of dental caries; a chemical substance, active ingredient (such as fluoride or xylitol), or oral hygiene product (toothpaste, mouthwash) structurally formulated to protect dental enamel against bacterial demineralization and corrosive acids.
• Anticatarrhal — Combating, soothing, or curing catarrh (acute or chronic inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by abundant secretion); a medication, syrup, nasal spray, or phytotherapeutic remedy indicated in treating rhinitis, bronchitis, or flu states to reduce congestion and fluidify mucous secretions.
• Anticoagulant — Preventing, delaying, or halting the blood clotting process; a medication, biological substance, or chemical compound (such as heparin or coumarin derivatives) clinically utilized to prevent and treat thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and other vascular cardiovascular conditions by reducing blood clot formation.
• Cholesterol-lowering — Combating, reducing, or regulating blood cholesterol levels; a medication (such as statins), dietary supplement, or functional food structurally designed to lower low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and prevent cardiovascular risks associated with atherosclerosis.
• Anticonvulsant — Preventing, combating, mitigating, or halting convulsions and epileptic seizures; a medication or active substance (such as phenobarbital, valproic acid, or levetiracetam) structurally designed to stabilize hyperactive and paroxysmal neuronal electrical activity within the central nervous system.
• Antideliriant — A medication, substance, or treatment that combats, alleviates, or eliminates delirium, psychotic episodes, and hallucinations; a neuroleptic or antipsychotic. As an adjective, it describes the structural therapeutic effect of a pharmaceutical preparation to restore cognitive clarity and stabilize the activity of the central nervous system during severe mental disorders.
• Antidepressant — A medication, chemical substance, or treatment used to combat, alleviate, and prevent states of depression, anxiety disorders, and clinical episodes of deep sadness or apathy. As an adjective, it describes the structural therapeutic effect of a compound capable of regulating the concentration of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) at the level of neuronal synapses within the central nervous system.
• Antineuralgic — A property of a substance or medication to combat, alleviate, or suppress violent pain localized along the path of a nerve; in a noun sense, it represents a complex analgesic and antipyretic pharmaceutical preparation, widely used for the rapid relief of headaches, dental or intercostal neuralgias, and mild febrile states.
• Antiretroviral — Combating, inhibiting, or halting the replication of retroviruses, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As an adjective, it describes medications, therapies (such as HAART), or clinical protocols designed to block different stages of the viral replication cycle (reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase). As a noun, it denotes the therapeutic agent used to lower viral load, protect the immune system, and prevent progression to AIDS.
• Hydrogen peroxide — A diluted aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), typically at a three percent concentration, widely used in medicine and households due to its mild antiseptic, disinfectant, and hemostatic properties. Upon contact with damaged tissues or blood, its characteristic effervescence produces a white foam through the rapid release of atomic oxygen, mechanically cleansing wounds of debris and bacteria.
• Hydrogen peroxide — A compound form spelled with a hyphen designating a diluted aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), typically at a three percent concentration. This pharmaceutical fluid is widely used for its mild antiseptic, disinfectant, and hemostatic properties, releasing atomic oxygen in the form of a white foam upon contact with open wounds.
• Apozem — A liquid pharmaceutical form, represented by a sweetened and highly concentrated infusion or decoction of medicinal plants, administered for therapeutic purposes. Unlike classic herbal teas, an apozem has a higher density of active ingredients due to prolonged boiling or maceration, traditionally used as a magistral remedy in phytotherapy.
• Asepticization — The act of asepticizing and its result; a set of structured chemical or physical measures designed to prevent the entry of pathogenic germs into an organism or a sterile environment. This technical phenomenon involves the use of antiseptics, sterilizers, or advanced air filtration systems, being a fundamental pillar in preventing nosocomial infections within hospital units.
• Aureomycin — The first antibiotic of the tetracycline class discovered historically (also known as chlortetracycline), isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces aureofaciens. Its name evokes the intense golden-yellow hue of the producing bacterial cultures, the drug possessing a broad spectrum of action used in the past to combat severe bacterial infections.