Mucolytic agent

Mucolytic agent

A mucolytic agent is any agent which dissolves thick mucus usually used to help relieve respiratory difficulties. (hydrolyzing glycosaminoglycans: tending to break down/lower the viscosity of mucin-containing body secretions/components). The viscosity of mucous secretions in the lungs is dependent upon the concentrations of mucoprotein, the presence of disulfide bonds between these macromolecules and DNA.

Mucolytics:
N-acetylcysteine: an aerosolized mucolytic agent often used as adjunctive therapy for pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis (CF) in combination with vigorous chest physiotherapy. N-acetylcysteine acts to split the sulfide bonds in the macromolecules thereby decreasing viscosity, allowing for removal by normal chest physiology. The action of N-acetylcysteine is pH dependent. Mucolytic action is significant at ranges of pH 7-9.(1)

Natural Mucolytics:
* Marijuana
* Mugwort
* Bromelain
* Papain
* Clerodendrum

External links

* [http://pedsccm.wustl.edu/All-Net/english/pharmpage/resp/mucolyt.html Robert G. Aucoin RPh - Mucolytic Agents]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • mucolytic — 1. adjective Serving to dissolve mucus. 2. noun A mucolytic agent …   Wiktionary

  • mucolytic — Capable of dissolving, digesting, or liquefying mucus. * * * mu·co·lyt·ic .myü kə lit ik adj hydrolyzing glycosaminoglycans: tending to break down or lower the viscosity of mucin containing body secretions or components <mucolytic enzymes>… …   Medical dictionary

  • mucolytic — n. an agent that dissolves or breaks down mucus. Mucolytics such as carbocisteine and dornase alfa (see DNAse) break down mucus in sputum and thus facilitate its expectoration; they are used to treat chest conditions involving excessive or… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Acetylcysteine — Systematic (IUPAC) name …   Wikipedia

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  • acetylcysteine — A mucolytic agent that reduces the viscosity of mucous secretions; used to prevent liver injury produced by acetaminophen toxicity. * * * ace·tyl·cys·te·ine ə .sēt əl sis tə .ēn, .as ə .tēl , .as ət əl n a mucolytic agent C5H9NO3S used esp. to… …   Medical dictionary

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  • Bromhexine — Drugbox IUPAC name = 2,4 dibromo 6 { [cyclohexyl(methyl)amino] methyl}aniline CAS number= ChemSpiderID = 2348 ATC prefix=R05 ATC suffix=CB02 ATC supplemental= PubChem=2442 DrugBank= C=14 | H=20 | Br=2 | N=2 molecular weight = 376.13… …   Wikipedia

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