A stimulant alkaloid derived from plants of the Ephedra genus, used medicinally for asthma and congestion. Also misused as a performance enhancer and in illegal drug production.
From Greek ephedra, the plant genus name, from epi- 'upon' + hedra 'seat', referring to how the plant grows. First isolated in 1885 by Japanese chemist Nagai Nagayoshi from the ma-huang plant.
Try Another Word