Target type: biologicalprocess
The process of biting and mashing food with the teeth prior to swallowing. [GOC:gvg]
Mastication, or chewing, is a complex biological process involving coordinated muscle contractions and interactions between the teeth, tongue, and jaw. It begins with the intake of food into the oral cavity. The teeth, specifically the incisors, canines, and premolars, play a crucial role in the initial breakdown of food. The incisors are responsible for biting and cutting food into smaller pieces. The canines tear and shred food, while the premolars grind and crush it. The tongue, along with the cheeks, manipulates the food, ensuring proper placement and movement within the oral cavity. The muscles of mastication, including the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid, are responsible for jaw movements. The masseter and temporalis muscles elevate the mandible, while the medial pterygoid aids in jaw closure and lateral movements. The lateral pterygoid muscle assists in jaw opening and protrusion. During mastication, the jaw undergoes rhythmic movements, alternating between opening and closing, and moving side to side. This coordinated movement allows the teeth to efficiently grind and crush food particles. As food is chewed, saliva produced by salivary glands mixes with the food. Saliva contains enzymes, primarily amylase, that initiate the digestion of carbohydrates. The saliva also lubricates the food, making it easier to swallow. Mastication serves several important functions, including: 1) Mechanical breakdown of food into smaller particles, increasing surface area for enzymatic digestion. 2) Mixing food with saliva, initiating digestion and facilitating swallowing. 3) Enhancing taste perception by releasing flavor compounds. 4) Reducing the size of food particles, preventing choking and facilitating swallowing. 5) Stimulating salivary gland secretion. Overall, mastication is an essential process for the efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.'
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| Protein | Definition | Taxonomy |
|---|---|---|
| Catechol O-methyltransferase | A catechol O-methyltransferase that is encoded in the genome of human. [PRO:DNx, UniProtKB:P21964] | Homo sapiens (human) |
| Compound | Definition | Classes | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| oxyquinoline | Oxyquinoline: An antiseptic with mild fungistatic, bacteriostatic, anthelmintic, and amebicidal action. It is also used as a reagent and metal chelator, as a carrier for radio-indium for diagnostic purposes, and its halogenated derivatives are used in addition as topical anti-infective agents and oral antiamebics. quinolin-8-ol : A monohydroxyquinoline that is quinoline substituted by a hydroxy group at position 8. Its fungicidal properties are used for the control of grey mould on vines and tomatoes. | monohydroxyquinoline | antibacterial agent; antifungal agrochemical; antiseptic drug; iron chelator |
| verapamil | 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-{[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl](methyl)amino}-2-(propan-2-yl)pentanenitrile : A tertiary amino compound that is 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine in which the hydrogens attached to the nitrogen are replaced by a methyl group and a 4-cyano-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methylhexyl group. verapamil : A racemate comprising equimolar amounts of dexverapamil and (S)-verapamil. An L-type calcium channel blocker of the phenylalkylamine class, it is used (particularly as the hydrochloride salt) in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmia, and as a preventive medication for migraine. Verapamil: A calcium channel blocker that is a class IV anti-arrhythmia agent. | aromatic ether; nitrile; polyether; tertiary amino compound | |
| 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid | 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid: RN given refers to parent cpd | ||
| 5'-methylthioadenosine | 5'-methylthioadenosine: structure 5'-S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine : Adenosine with the hydroxy group at C-5' substituted with a methylthio (methylsulfanyl) group. | thioadenosine | algal metabolite; Escherichia coli metabolite; human metabolite; mouse metabolite; Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite |
| sitagliptin | sitagliptin : A triazolopyrazine that exhibits hypoglycemic activity. | triazolopyrazine; trifluorobenzene | EC 3.4.14.5 (dipeptidyl-peptidase IV) inhibitor; environmental contaminant; hypoglycemic agent; serine proteinase inhibitor; xenobiotic |
| tolcapone | tolcapone : Benzophenone substituted on one of the phenyl rings at C-3 and C-4 by hydroxy groups and at C-5 by a nitro group, and on the other phenyl ring by a methyl group at C-4. It is an inhibitor of catechol O-methyltransferase. Tolcapone: A benzophenone and nitrophenol compound that acts as an inhibitor of CATECHOL O-METHYLTRANSFERASE, an enzyme involved in the metabolism of DOPAMINE and LEVODOPA. It is used in the treatment of PARKINSON DISEASE in patients for whom levodopa is ineffective or contraindicated. | 2-nitrophenols; benzophenones; catechols | antiparkinson drug; EC 2.1.1.6 (catechol O-methyltransferase) inhibitor |
| entacapone | entacapone : A monocarboxylic acid amide that is N,N-diethylprop-2-enamide in which the hydrogen at position 2 is substituted by a cyano group and the hydrogen at the 3E position is substituted by a 3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl group. entacapone: structure given in first source | 2-nitrophenols; catechols; monocarboxylic acid amide; nitrile | antidyskinesia agent; antiparkinson drug; central nervous system drug; EC 2.1.1.6 (catechol O-methyltransferase) inhibitor |
| opicapone | opicapone: structure in first source | oxadiazole; ring assembly |