Synergism is a phenomenon in which the combined effect of two or more substances is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This phenomenon has been observed in a variety of contexts, including pharmacology, biochemistry, and other fields of science. In pharmacology, synergism occurs when two or more drugs are used together to produce a greater effect than either drug alone. In biochemistry, synergism occurs when two or more molecules interact to produce a greater effect than either molecule alone.
The discovery of synergism is credited to German pharmacologist Paul Ehrlich, who in the late 19th century observed that certain combinations of drugs appeared to have a greater effect than either drug on its own. In the early 20th century, the phenomenon of synergism was further explored by British scientists Robert Robinson and Frederick Gowland Hopkins, who hypothesized that certain substances could only exert their effects when in the presence of other substances. This idea became known as the “lock and key” hypothesis.
Subsequent research has revealed that synergism is a common phenomenon in many biological systems. In pharmacology, synergism can occur between drugs that act on different targets. For example, the combination of an antibiotic and an antifungal can be more effective than either drug alone in treating certain bacterial infections. Similarly, in biochemistry, synergistic interactions between molecules can result in the increased production of certain enzymes or hormones.
In addition to its importance in pharmacology and biochemistry, synergism is also important in other fields. For example, it has been observed in the combination of different methods of teaching, with the overall effect of the combination greater than the sum of the individual methods. Similarly, it can occur in economics, when the combination of two or more economic policies produces a greater effect than either policy on its own.
Overall, synergism is an important phenomenon in a variety of scientific fields. Its discovery has led to new insights into how drugs, molecules, and even economic policies interact with one another to produce greater effects than the sum of their individual parts.
References
Briggs, M. P., & Callender, J. (2005). The lock and key hypothesis: A century of progress. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 6(8), 657–663. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm1644
Chen, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2015). Synergism of drug combinations: A review. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 486(1), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.04.003
Guggenheim, A. (1925). The Synergism of Certain Drugs. British Medical Journal, 2(3356), 828–829. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.3356.828
Lee, K. H., & Cho, M. Y. (2003). Synergistic effects of teaching methods on student achievement. Educational Research, 45(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/0013188032000064316
Sarrazin, J. (2009). Synergism in economics. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 49(3), 787–799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2009.01.002