monensin
/məˈnɛnsɪn/Cell Biol. and Veterinary Med.
noun
An open-chain polyether produced by the bacterium Streptomyces cinnamonensis, which acts as an ionophore for monovalent cations and inhibits protein transport and various other cellular functions, and which is used in veterinary medicine as an antibiotic, chiefly for growth promotion in cattle.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Journal of the American Chemical Society. From scientific Latin monens- (in cinnamonensis, specific epithet from classical Latin cinnamon + -ēnsis: see -ese) + -in.