Definition

A chemical compound that blocks the action of folic acid in the body, used mainly in cancer treatment and sometimes as a poison for rodents.

Example

Aminopterin was once widely used in the treatment of certain types of cancer.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of aminopterin?

Yeah, I read that it's used in some cancer treatments.

Right! It's interesting how it's been replaced by methotrexate now.

Totally, but it's still fascinating to learn about older medications.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Aminopterin is formed from "amino" (from the Greek "aminon", meaning nitrogen-containing) and "pterin" (from the Greek "pteron", meaning wing or feather). The word refers to a compound that contains an amino group and is related to pteridines, which are compounds that have a wing-like structure in their molecular configuration.

Memory Tip

Think of 'amino' as relating to nitrogen and 'pterin' as referring to a wing-like structure, which helps you remember that aminopterin is a nitrogen-containing compound with a specific molecular shape.

Visually Confused Words