mucolyticadj.n.
/ˌmjuːkəˈlɪtɪk/, U.S. /ˌmjukəˈlɪdɪk/ Chiefly Medicine.
A. adj.
Able to degrade or disperse mucus or mucoids, or decrease their viscosity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > carbohydrates > sugars > polysaccharides > [adjective] > able to decompose mucopolysaccharides
mucolytic1939
1939 Nature 9 Dec. 977/2 (heading) A mucolytic enzyme in testis extracts.
1953 Jrnl. Soc. Leather Trades' Chemists 37 80 It should be possible to produce pelt by removing the mucoids with mucolytic enzymes.
1971 S. Afr. Med. Jrnl. 45 948/1 In patients with acute obstructive airway disease pancreatic dornase and acetyl- l-cysteine (Airbron) showed excellent mucolytic activity.
1996 D. W. Brown Aromatherapy (Teach Yourself Ser.) iii. 21 Ketones..are also mucolytic, breaking down and increasing the flow of mucus.
B. n.
A mucolytic agent.
ΚΠ
1961 Lancet 7 Oct. 803/1 The mucolytics in present use are either not more effective than a simple water mist, or have undesirable often serious side-effects.
1999 Life Sci. 65 1923 The protective effects of mucolytics in the lung tissue may be due to their antioxidant activity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1939