Eudysmic ratio

Eudysmic Ratio

The Eudysmic Ratio is a term used in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry to describe the ratio of pharmacological activity of two Enantiomers. Enantiomers are pairs of molecules that are mirror images of each other, much like left and right hands. In the context of drug development, the Eudysmic Ratio is used to quantify the difference in pharmacological activity between these two enantiomers.

Definition

The Eudysmic Ratio is defined as the ratio of the pharmacological activity of the more active enantiomer to the less active one. This ratio is used to measure the extent to which one enantiomer is more effective than the other. A high Eudysmic Ratio indicates a significant difference in the pharmacological activity of the two enantiomers, while a low ratio suggests that the enantiomers have similar levels of activity.

Importance in Drug Development

The Eudysmic Ratio is an important consideration in Drug Development. Many drugs are chiral, meaning they have two enantiomers. These enantiomers can have different levels of activity, and in some cases, one enantiomer can be harmful while the other is beneficial. By determining the Eudysmic Ratio, researchers can gain insights into the potential effectiveness and safety of a drug.

For example, the drug Thalidomide is a notorious case where one enantiomer caused severe birth defects, while the other was an effective treatment for morning sickness. If the Eudysmic Ratio had been considered during the development of Thalidomide, the tragic outcomes might have been avoided.

Challenges in Determining the Eudysmic Ratio

Determining the Eudysmic Ratio can be challenging due to the difficulty in separating enantiomers and accurately measuring their individual pharmacological activities. Advanced techniques such as Chiral Chromatography and Spectroscopy are often used to separate and analyze enantiomers.

See Also

• Chirality (chemistry)
• Stereochemistry
• Drug Development
• Pharmacology
• Medicinal Chemistry