MeSH

A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

Year introduced: 1998(1963)

Liquids that dissolve other substances (solutes), generally solids, without any change in chemical composition, as, water containing sugar. (Grant and Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

A very loosely defined group of drugs that tend to reduce the activity of the central nervous system. The major groups included here are ethyl alcohol, anesthetics, hypnotics and sedatives, narcotics, and tranquilizing agents (antipsychotics and antianxiety agents).

Year introduced: 1979

Substances used on humans and other animals that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. They are distinguished from DISINFECTANTS, which are used on inanimate objects.

Year introduced: 1967

A broad class of substances containing carbon and its derivatives. Many of these chemicals will frequently contain hydrogen with or without oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and other elements. They exist in either carbon chain or carbon ring form.

Year introduced: 1998

Alkyl compounds containing a hydroxyl group. They are classified according to relation of the carbon atom: primary alcohols, R-CH2OH; secondary alcohols, R2-CHOH; tertiary alcohols, R3-COH. (From Grant and Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

Uses of chemicals which affect the course of conditions, diseases, syndromes or pathology to benefit the health of an individual.

Year introduced: 2004

Activities which affect organs and systemic functions without regard to a particular disease.

Year introduced: 2004

Uses of chemicals in a research, industrial, or household setting. This does not include PHARMACOLOGIC ACTIONS.

Year introduced: 2004(1999)

A broad category of chemical actions and uses that result in the prevention, treatment, cure or diagnosis of disease. Included here are drugs and chemicals that act by altering normal body functions, such as the REPRODUCTIVE CONTROL AGENTS and ANESTHETICS. Effects of chemicals on the environment are also included.

Year introduced: 2004(1999)

A group of pharmacologic activities, effects on living systems and the environment, and modes of employment of drugs and chemicals. They are broken into actions, which describe their effects, and uses, which describe how they are employed.

Year introduced: 1999

A class of drugs producing both physiological and psychological effects through a variety of mechanisms. They can be divided into specific agents, e.g., affecting an identifiable molecular mechanism unique to target cells bearing receptors for that agent, and nonspecific agents, those producing effects on different target cells and acting by diverse molecular mechanisms. Those with nonspecific mechanisms are generally further classed according to whether they produce behavioral depression or stimulation. Those with specific mechanisms are classed by locus of action or specific therapeutic use. (From Gilman AG, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p252)

Year introduced: 1979

Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection.