the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Because of this it may be a useful therapeutic agent for both Gaucher disease and Parkinson's disease. It was also recently shown that ambroxol triggers exocytosis of lysosomes by releasing calcium from acidic cellular calcium stores. This occurs by diffusion of ambroxol into lysosomes and lysosomal pH neutralization. This mechanism is most likely responsible for the mucolytic effects of the drug, but may also explain the reported activity in Gaucher and Parkinson's disease. Both ambroxol and its parent drug bromhexine have been shown to induce autophagy in several cell types, and ambroxol was shown to potentiate rifampicin therapy in a model of tuberculosis through host directed effects. Ambroxol also enhances lung levels of a wide range of antibiotics. Brand names It is the active ingredient of Muciclar (Italy), Mucosolvan, Mucobrox (Spain), Bisolvon (Australia and Switzerland), Mucol, Lasolvan, Mucoangin, Surbronc, Brontex (Lithuanian), Ambro (Kazakhstan), Ambolar, and Lysopain. References Expectorants Anilines Bromoarenes Amines Secondary alcohols