General Issues of Chirality in Pharmacology

Abstract

AbstractChiral compounds are present in the human body in great numbers. They are represented by various biologically active substances like hormones, neuromediators etc. Furthermore, the body is miraculously capable of recognizing them and of “turning on” appropriate metabolic or receptor mediated reactions. Understandably, the body interacts differently with different components of a racemic drug. Each enantiomer is metabolized along a separate path producing a specific pharmacological effect. Thus one isomer can produce the desired therapeutic effect while another one can be ineffective or, still worse, produce an undesired or toxic effect.