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Acetaminophen is widely used to relieve pain, but its mechanism of action has long remained unclear. New research suggests that an important byproduct of acetaminophen may interfere with the transmission of pain signals along nerves — before they reach the brain.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol or Tylenol, is metabolized by the liver into a compound called 4-aminophenol, which then enters the bloodstream and is distributed to various organs. In these organs, an enzyme combines it with a fatty acid to form AM404.
Previous studies have shown that AM404 can affect the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. But the new study, published June 4 in the journal PNAS, suggests that AM404 also affects the peripheral nervous system, where pain signals originate.
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
