Ephedrine is an alkaloid found in the stems of plants belonging to the genus Ephedra. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years and is still widely used today. Commonly called Ma Huang, ephedrine and a number of related alkaloids are the primary active component in many dietary supplements geared towards weight loss or energy enhancement. Recently, supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids have come under intense scrutiny due to a significant number of adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with their use. The purpose of this website is to provide a comprehensive look into the world of ephedrine by exploring its history, its chemical properties, the cellular mechanism by which it acts, its effects on the body, and the recent actions taken by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate its use.

This page was created to fulfill a requirement for Biology 361: From Venoms and Toxins to Drugs.

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© Copyright 2001 Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036. Send comments, questions, and suggestions to: jokogoy@davidson.edu