Pharmacology

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Branch of science studying drug action on biological systems

Pharmacology

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Pharmacology

Raw opium

Morphin

Areas within Pharmacology

Pharmacology (from the Greek word φάρμακον pharmakon, meaning "drug" or "medicine", and -λογία -logia, meaning "study of") is the branch of medicine, biology, and pharmaceutical sciences concerned with the **study of drug action**. A drug is any natural, synthetic, or endogenous chemical substance that exerts a **biochemical or physiological effect** on the cell, tissue, organ, or organism.

More specifically, pharmacology studies the **interactions between living organisms and chemicals** that influence biological function. If a substance has beneficial therapeutic properties, it is classified as a pharmaceutical or medication.

Overview

Pharmacology encompasses the **discovery, characterization, and understanding of the properties and actions of drugs**. It investigates both the **mechanisms of action** and the **effects of substances** at various biological levels—molecular, cellular, systemic, and behavioral.

Substances studied in pharmacology may be:

• Exogenous compounds (introduced from outside the body)
• Endogenous compounds (produced naturally in the body)
• Natural products derived from plants or microbes

The goal of pharmacology is to understand how drugs interact with biological systems and how the body responds to these substances, both in healthy and diseased states.

Branches of pharmacology

Pharmacology is a multidisciplinary science with several specialized subfields:

• Pharmacodynamics – the study of what a drug does to the body, including mechanisms of action and drug-receptor interactions.
• Pharmacokinetics – the study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
• Clinical pharmacology – focuses on drug use in humans and the effects of drugs in clinical settings.
• Neuropharmacology – studies the effects of drugs on the nervous system.
• Psychopharmacology – explores the impact of drugs on mood, perception, behavior, and cognition.
• Toxicology – investigates the harmful effects of chemicals and drugs on living organisms.
• Pharmacogenomics – studies how genes affect an individual's response to drugs.
• Pharmacoepidemiology – evaluates the use and effects of drugs in large populations.

History

Pharmacology has ancient roots in herbal medicine and traditional healing. Modern pharmacology began to develop in the 19th century with the advancement of chemistry and physiology. Key milestones include:

• Isolation of morphine from opium in the early 1800s
• Discovery of anesthetics such as ether and chloroform
• Introduction of standardized drug testing in laboratories

The field expanded rapidly in the 20th century with the advent of **synthetic drugs**, **antibiotics**, and **hormone therapies**.

Applications

Pharmacology is essential in:

• **Drug development** – discovering and optimizing new therapeutic compounds
• **Clinical medicine** – prescribing drugs safely and effectively
• **Public health** – understanding drug effects in populations
• **Veterinary medicine** – applying pharmacological principles to animal health

Relation to other disciplines

Pharmacology differs from:

• Pharmacy: the science and practice of preparing and dispensing drugs.
• Medicinal chemistry: the design and chemical synthesis of pharmaceutical agents.
• Biochemistry: the study of chemical processes within living organisms.

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See also

• Glossary of pharmacology
• Dictionary of pharmacology
• Drug
• Pharmacist
• Drug development
• Pharmacovigilance
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Evidence-based medicine