2-Thiouracil is a specific molecule consisting of a sulfated uracil.

Medical use

The substance is a historically relevant anti-thyroid preparation. Astwood E.B. used it in 1943 as therapy of

Graves' disease Graves' disease (german: Morbus Basedow), also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It frequently results in and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It also often results in an enlarged thyr ...

for the first time. It remains in use. Thiouracil inhibits thyroid activity by blocking the enzyme thyroid peroxidase. Its use in recent times has been replaced by advent of more potent and safer antithyroid drugs. It occurs in seeds of Brassica and Crucifera species. Thiouracil has been used as antithyroid, coronary vasodilator, and in congestive heart failure although its use has been largely supplanted by other drugs.

References

Pyrimidines IARC Group 2B carcinogens Thioureas Nucleobases {{heterocyclic-stub