Biological Activity Spectrum (BAS)
Biological Activity Spectrum (BAS) of a compound represents the complex of pharmacological effects, physiological & biochemical mechanisms of action, specific toxicity (mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity & embryotoxicity) which can be revealed in compound's interaction with biological system. Biological Activity Spectrum describs the intrinsic properties of the compound depended on its the structural particularities. They may be revealed in experiment under any conditions (dosage, route of administration, biological object, age, sex, etc.).
Most of known biologically active substances have many different biological activities that caused both main (therapeutic) and supplementary (side) actions. One part of these activities is found during the initial preclinical study of a compound; another part is found in clinical trials; some activities are discovered in many years after the first launching of a drug. An example of FLUOROURACIL's activities shows which and when known activities of this substance were discovered. This experimental list of activities is not comprehensive and one may expect that some new activities can be found for this molecule. Sometimes these, newly found, activities provides the reason for new therapeutic indications. Some examples of compounds which were launched for more than one indication are presented.
FLUOROURACIL's known activities (CAS No. 51-21-8)
Activity |
Year |
Antineoplastic | 1962 |
Embryotoxic | 1966 |
Antiviral | 1971 |
Thimidine Triph. Synthesis Inhibition | 1977 |
RNA Synthesis Inhibition | 1980 |
Protein Synthesis Inhibition | 1987 |
Lipid Metabolism Regulator | 1990 |
Immunosuppressant | 1990 |
Antimetabolite | 1991 |
Antiviral (AIDS) | 1996 |
. . . |
. . . |
Examples of pharmaceuticals, which additionally discovered activity was used for another indicatio
Pharmaceutical |
Therapeutic Effect |
Year |
Acetazolamide | Diuretic Antiepileptic |
1954 1956 |
Anxiolytic Antiepileptic |
1989 | |
Antihelmintic Immunostimulant |
1968 1980 |
|
Alprostadil | Antiagregant Erectant |
1988 1994 |
Aspirin | Analgesic Antiagregant |
1899 1971 |
? |
? |
? |
Prous J. Drug Years News 1995 .