Drug discovery crude preparations are morphine, the active agent in opium, and digoxin, a heart stimulant originating from Digitalis lanata. Organic chemistry also led to the synthesis of many of the natural products isolated from biological sources. Historically, substances, whether crude extracts or purified chemicals, were screened for biological activity without knowledge of the biological target. Only after an active substance was identified was an effort made to identify the target. This approach is known as classical pharmacology, forward pharmacology, or phenotypic drug discovery. Later, small molecules were synthesized to specifically target a known physiological/pathological pathway, avoiding the mass screening of banks
Bath salts (drug) Bath salts (drug) "Bath salts" (also "psychoactive bath salts", "PABS", or in the United Kingdom monkey dust) is a term used to describe several recreational designer drugs. The name derives from instances in which the drugs were disguised as bath salts. The white powder, granules, or crystals often resemble bath salts such as Epsom salts, but differ chemically. The drug's packaging often states "not for human consumption" in an attempt to circumvent drug prohibition laws. Recreational drugs have also been disguised as plant food, hookah cleaner and other products. Synthetic cathinones such as mephedrone, which are chemically similar to cathinone,