Ichthyol
Encyclopedia
Ammonium bituminosulfonate (ichthyol or ichthammol, CAS# brand names: Albichthyol) is a product of natural origin obtained in the first step by dry distillation
of sulfur
-rich oil shale
. It is used in medicine
as a remedy for treating some skin diseases, such as acne
, eczema
and psoriasis
. It is commonly used in 10% or 20% concentrate ointment form as a "drawing salve
." However, it does not actually draw out foreign objects. It does soften skin over a boil or spot allowing it to come to a head sooner. It also decreases microorganisms in the area surrounding a skin condition. It is sometimes called "black ointment". Its dermatological action was discovered by German physician Paul Gerson Unna
.
From elemental analysis its composition was calculated to be C28H36S5O6(NH4)2. However, as a product from natural origin it is a mixture of many different compounds.
Chemically, it is a sulfonated
shale oil
. It can be presented in two forms: pale sulfonated shale oil (PSSO), and dark sulfonated shale oil (DSSO). DSSO is also sometimes called ichthammol. The last form is a thick reddish brown liquid, possessing a bituminous odor and taste. It is soluble in water and miscible with glycerin, but is nearly insoluble in strong alcohol or concentrated ether. It contains a large percentage of organically combined sulfur
. Ichthyol is incompatible with acids, alkali carbonates or hydrates and alkaloidal salts.
Pharmacologically, PSSO and DSSO have anti-inflammatory
, bactericidal
and fungicidal
properties. In otology
, a mixture of glycerol and ichthammol (G & I) has been used for generations for the topical treatment
of ear infections. It is efficient against Gram-positive
organisms. The anti-inflammatory action is explained by its influence on the formation, secretion and effect of inflammation
mediators. DSSO is well tolerated and no indications of teratogenic, mutagenic or carcinogenic effects have been noted.
The European Medicines Agency
recently published a Summary Report on ICHTHYOL-substances (synonym: bituminosulfonates) in course of the European Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) procedure (see report from June 2005) in veterinary medicine. The committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) decided that because of good tolerance and safety there is no need to establish an MRL for ICHTHYOL-substances. As a result, ICHTHYOL-substances can be applied topically in all mammalian food producing species without restriction.
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
of sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
-rich oil shale
Oil shale
Oil shale, an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock, contains significant amounts of kerogen from which liquid hydrocarbons called shale oil can be produced...
. It is used in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
as a remedy for treating some skin diseases, such as acne
Acne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...
, eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
and psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
. It is commonly used in 10% or 20% concentrate ointment form as a "drawing salve
Salve
A salve is a medical ointment used to soothe the head or other body surface. A popular eye medicine known as "Phrygian powder" was one of Laodicea's sources of wealth...
." However, it does not actually draw out foreign objects. It does soften skin over a boil or spot allowing it to come to a head sooner. It also decreases microorganisms in the area surrounding a skin condition. It is sometimes called "black ointment". Its dermatological action was discovered by German physician Paul Gerson Unna
Paul Gerson Unna
Paul Gerson Unna, was a German physician specialized in dermatology and one of the pioneers in dermatopathology....
.
From elemental analysis its composition was calculated to be C28H36S5O6(NH4)2. However, as a product from natural origin it is a mixture of many different compounds.
Chemically, it is a sulfonated
Sulfonic acid
Sulfonic acid usually refers to a member of the class of organosulfur compounds with the general formula RS2–OH, where R is an alkyl or aryl. The formal part of acid, HS2–OH, are formally derivatives of the "parent" inorganic compound with the formula HSO2.-Preparation:Sulfonic acid is...
shale oil
Shale oil
Shale oil, known also as kerogen oil or oil-shale oil, is an unconventional oil produced from oil shale by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution. These processes convert the organic matter within the rock into synthetic oil and gas...
. It can be presented in two forms: pale sulfonated shale oil (PSSO), and dark sulfonated shale oil (DSSO). DSSO is also sometimes called ichthammol. The last form is a thick reddish brown liquid, possessing a bituminous odor and taste. It is soluble in water and miscible with glycerin, but is nearly insoluble in strong alcohol or concentrated ether. It contains a large percentage of organically combined sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
. Ichthyol is incompatible with acids, alkali carbonates or hydrates and alkaloidal salts.
Pharmacologically, PSSO and DSSO have anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
, bactericidal
Bacteriocide
A bactericide or bacteriocide, abbreviated Bcidal, is a substance that kills bacteria and, ideally, nothing else. Bactericides are disinfectants, antiseptics or antibiotics.-Bactericidal disinfectants:...
and fungicidal
Fungicide
Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals...
properties. In otology
Otology
Otology is a branch of biomedicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear as well as its diseases, diagnosis and treatment....
, a mixture of glycerol and ichthammol (G & I) has been used for generations for the topical treatment
Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacotherapy is the treatment of disease through the administration of drugs. As such, it is considered part of the larger category of therapy....
of ear infections. It is efficient against Gram-positive
Gram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...
organisms. The anti-inflammatory action is explained by its influence on the formation, secretion and effect of inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
mediators. DSSO is well tolerated and no indications of teratogenic, mutagenic or carcinogenic effects have been noted.
The European Medicines Agency
European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency is a European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. From 1995 to 2004, the European Medicines Agency was known as European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.Roughly parallel to the U.S...
recently published a Summary Report on ICHTHYOL-substances (synonym: bituminosulfonates) in course of the European Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) procedure (see report from June 2005) in veterinary medicine. The committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) decided that because of good tolerance and safety there is no need to establish an MRL for ICHTHYOL-substances. As a result, ICHTHYOL-substances can be applied topically in all mammalian food producing species without restriction.