ə̇ˈfedrə̇n, eˈf-; ˈefəˌdrēn, ˈefədrən noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary ephedra- (from New Latin Ephedra, genus name of Ephedra sinica ) + -ine
: a white crystalline alkaloid C 6 H 5 CHOHCH(CH 3 )NHCH 3 extracted especially from mahuang or made synthetically and used often in the form of a salt (as the sulfate) chiefly in relieving hay fever, asthma, and nasal congestion