Adrenaline

Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It is very important for the body's metabolism. It is also known as Epinephrine. It is released from the adrenal glands when danger threatens or in an emergency which is often termed as Adrenaline Rush. The term 'Fight or Flight' is often used to characterize the circumstances under which adrenaline is released into the body. Such circumstances maybe triggered by situations which are threatening, exciting or environmental stressor conditions such as high noise levels, or bright light and high ambient temperature. It is an early evolutionary adaptation to allow better coping with dangerous and unexpected situations. When it is produced in the body it increases heart rate, contracts blood vessels and dilates air passages. With dilated blood vessels and air passages, the body is able to pass more blood to the muscles and get more oxygen into the lungs in a timely manner, increasing physical performance for short bursts of time.

History of the Discovery

Jokichi Takamine discovered Adrenaline in 1901. He was a Japanese-American biochemist. He was born in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. In 1894 Takamine emigrated to the United States. He established his own research laboratory in New York City, but licensed the commercial production of Takadiastase. In 1901 he isolated and purified the hormone adrenaline (the first effective bronchodilator for asthma) from animal glands, becoming the first to accomplish this for a glandular hormone. It was the first pure hormone to be isolated from natural sources. Adrenaline was first synthesized by Friedrich Stolz and Henry Drysdale Dakin, independently, in 1904.

Role of the Discovery of Adrenaline in the Improvement of Human Life

• Epinephrine found wide use in medicine system. It acts as a stimulant in cardiac arrest.
• It acts as a vasoconstrictor in shock
• It acts as a bronchodilator and antispasmodic in bronchial asthma
• It acts to lower intra-ocular pressure in the treatment of glaucoma.