adrenochrome

plural adrenochromes

1. countableuncountablebiochemistryAn oxidation product of adrenaline or epinephrine; its semicarbazone is used as a drug to reduce bleeding.

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   Investigation of the chemical constitution showed that it has the properties of N-methyl-2:3-dihydro-3-hydroxyindole-5:6-quinone. The shorter name adrenochrome is proposed for this substance. […] Adrenochrome is a very unstable substance: it is completely destroyed in 4 min. by 1% hydrochloric acid, and in 40 sec. by 1% ammonia.

   1937, David Ezra Green, “Adrenaline and Adrenochrome”, in The Biochemical Journal, volume 31, number 4, page 596

2. countableuncountablefictionA fictional drug obtained from human adrenal glands.

   It also revives old slurs, but instead of openly accusing Jews of drinking the blood of gentile children, various euphemisms are employed: “Coastal elites,” “Hollywood,” and “George Soros” are now said to be harvesting a chemical called adrenochrome to prolong their life spans.

   2020 September 30, Helen Lewis, “The Joke’s on Us”, in The Atlantic

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   “[…]He's one of these Satanism freaks. He offered me human blood—said it would make me higher than I'd ever been in my life,” he laughed. “I thought he was kidding, so I told him I'd just as soon have an ounce or so of pure adrenochrome—or maybe just a fresh adrenalin gland to chew on.”

   1971, Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, New York: Popular Library, →ISBN, page 132