ABSTRACT
We label drugs as structurally nonspecific when there is no direct correlation between their chemical structure and their pharmacological action. Correlation does exist with their physicochemical properties, such as redox potential, solubility, and partition coefficient. Gastric antacids can also be considered structurally nonspecific drugs. Their activity on gastric acid is strictly a neutralization reaction, and various compounds of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and aluminum can be used for the same purpose. The volatile (inhalation) anesthetics are an important class of drugs that can be considered structurally nonspecific. The lipid theory developed by Meyer and Overton states that there is a direct correlation between the lipid solubility of an anesthetic agent and its anesthetic potency. A major proportion of available drugs on the market fall into the category of structurally specific drugs. These are drugs for which specific structural features are required for biological action.
