A substance which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy; in immunology, nonspecific stimulator (e.g., BCG vaccine) of the immune response.
Term used to describe an agent or technique that enhances the effectiveness of the primary treatment.
Any compound that enhances the effectiveness (i.e., weed-killing ability) of a given herbicide. For example, adjuvants such as surfactants can be mixed (prior to application to weeds) with herbicide (in water), in order to hasten transport of the herbicide’s active ingredient into the weed plant. That is because the herbicide must move from an aqueous (water) environment into one (i.e., the weed plant’s cuticle or “skin”) comprised of lipids/lipophilic molecules, before it can accomplish its task.
Any compound that enhances the desired response by the body to that pharmaceutical. For example, adjuvants such as certain polysaccharides or surface-modified diamond nanoparticles, can be injected along with (vaccine) antigen in order to increase the immune response (e.g., production of antibodies) to a given antigen. Another example is that consumption of grapefruit juice by humans will increase the impact of certain pharmaceuticals. Those pharmaceuticals include some sedatives, antihypertensives, the antihistamine terfenadine, and the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. The adjuvant effect of grapefruit juice is thought to be caused via inhibition of the enzyme cytochrome P4503A4, which catalyzes reactions involved in the metabolism (breakdown) of those pharmaceuticals.
A substance added to a mixture to modify the activity of the active ingredient in a predictable way.
Referring to treatment by drugs or radiation therapy after surgery for cancer.
Chemical agents (e.g., alum) which increase the immunizing potential of vaccines, toxoids etc when mixed with them.
Something that helps or reinforces a process, as in enhancing an immune response.
Any substance used in conjunction with another to enhance its activity. Aluminum salts are used as adjuvants in the preparation of vaccines from the toxins of diphtheria and tetanus: by keeping the toxins in precipitated form, the salts increase the efficacy of the toxins as antigens.
A drug which, when given in conjunction with another (“main”) drug (usually by incorporating the adjuvant in the formulation), changes the action of the main drug in a predictable manner.
Material added to improve some chemical or physical property, (e.g. of a plant protectant) or a biological property (e.g. to improve antibody response to antigen).
A substance included in a vaccine to enhance the immune system’s reaction to the components of the vaccine.
An enhancer or booster is a substance that augments the activity of another substance within the body. This term is commonly used to refer to an ingredient incorporated into a vaccine to amplify the production of antibodies by the immune system, thereby intensifying the effectiveness of the vaccine.
A supplementary drug mixed into a medication to boost and improve the effectiveness of the primary drug.