Discovery
William Bates reported in the New York Medical Journal in 1886 the discovery of a substance produced in the adrenal gland. What came to be known as epinephrine was isolated and identified by Polish physiologist Napoleon Cybulski in 1895, and this discovery was repeated by John Jacob Abel in 1897. In 1900, Japanese American chemist Jokichi Takamine discovered the same hormone independently, and in 1901 isolated and purified the hormone from cow glands. Its first artificial synthesis was done in 1904 by Friedrich Stolz.
Natural Production
Epinephrine is a naturally occurring hormone that is continuously produced in small amounts in the adrenal glands. In high-stress situations, such as in times of excitement or danger, the brain sends messages to the adrenal glands to up the production of epinephrine. The result is the "fight or flight" reaction. Heart rate and blood pressure increases, small blood vessels are constricted, sugar stored in the liver is released, and certain involuntary muscles are relaxed while others are contracted. This prepares the body to face the danger (fight) or escape from it (flight).
Epinephrine as a medicine was once prepared using extracts from the adrenal glands of animals, but is now produced synthetically.
Epinephrine as a medicine was once prepared using extracts from the adrenal glands of animals, but is now produced synthetically.
Synthetic Production
Epinephrine may be synthesized by a reaction with (1) catechol (C6H6O2) and (2) chloroacetyl chloride (C2H2Cl2O). (3) The product of that reaction is then reacted with (4) methylamine (CH3NH2). (5) This is then reduced to form the final molecule of epinephrine (C6H13NO3).
The following picture illustrates the steps described:
The following picture illustrates the steps described:
Problems
The major problems with epinephrine occur in its use as a drug. Like most drugs, it comes with a long list of possible side effects, including but not limited to:
The severity of these side effects differ.
- increased breathing difficulty
- chest pain
- blurred vision
- uneven heartbeat
- seizure
- sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- pale skin
- feeling short of breath
- dizziness
- weakness or tremors
- headache
- feeling nervous or anxious
The severity of these side effects differ.