Cetylpyridinium chloride
Encyclopedia
Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is a cationic quaternary ammonium compound in some types of mouthwash
es, toothpaste
s, lozenge
s, throat sprays, breath sprays, and nasal spray
s. It is an antiseptic
that kills bacteria and other microorganisms. It has been shown to be effective in preventing dental plaque
and reducing gingivitis
. It has also been used as an ingredient in certain pesticide
s. However, this ingredient has also been alleged (according to WebMD, eMedicine,) to cause brown stains between the teeth and on the surface of teeth similar to chlorhexidine rinse. However, these stains can be easily removed by a dentist during a routine check-up. There have been reports of taste alteration accompanying the use of cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash.
. It has a melting point of 77 °C when anhydrous
or 80–83 °C in its monohydrate form. It is insoluble in acetone
, acetic acid
, or ethanol
. It has a pyridine
-like odor. It is combustible. Concentrated solutions are destructive to mucous membrane
s. It is toxic when swallowed and very toxic when inhaled.
In some products, cetylpyridinium bromide is used instead. Its properties are virtually identical.
Its critical micelle concentration
(CMC) is 0.00124M, corresponding to 0.042% in water.
-RAT LD50 30 mg kg−1
ORL-RBT LD50 400 mg kg−1
IVN-RBT LD50 36 mg kg−1
Mouthwash
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. Some manufacturers of mouthwash claim that antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse kill the bacterial plaque causing cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Anti-cavity mouth rinse uses fluoride to protect against tooth decay...
es, toothpaste
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush as an accessory to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it serves as an abrasive that aids in removing the dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing...
s, lozenge
Throat lozenge
A throat lozenge, cough drop, troche, or cough sweet is a small, medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat , possibly from the common cold or influenza...
s, throat sprays, breath sprays, and nasal spray
Nasal spray
Nasal sprays come in a variety of forms. Medicated such as Astelin, Afrin and Nasonex and natural such as Sinusoothe and Sterimar. Although delivery methods vary, most nasal sprays function by instilling a fine mist into the nostril by action of a hand-operated pump mechanism.-Antihistamine nasal...
s. It is an antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
that kills bacteria and other microorganisms. It has been shown to be effective in preventing dental plaque
Dental plaque
Dental plaque is a biofilm, usually a pale yellow, that develops naturally on the teeth. Like any biofilm, dental plaque is formed by colonizing bacteria trying to attach themselves to a smooth surface...
and reducing gingivitis
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a term used to describe non-destructive periodontal disease. The most common form of gingivitis is in response to bacterial biofilms adherent to tooth surfaces, termed plaque-induced gingivitis, and is the most common form of periodontal disease...
. It has also been used as an ingredient in certain pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s. However, this ingredient has also been alleged (according to WebMD, eMedicine,) to cause brown stains between the teeth and on the surface of teeth similar to chlorhexidine rinse. However, these stains can be easily removed by a dentist during a routine check-up. There have been reports of taste alteration accompanying the use of cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash.
Synonyms
Cetylpyridinium chloride is present in commercial products such as 1-palmitylpyridinium chloride, C16-alkylpyridinium chloride, 1-hexadecylpyridinium chloride, acetoquat CPC, aktivex, ammonyx CPC, cecure, ceepryn chloride, cepacol, ceprim, cepacol chloride, cetafilm, cetamium, dobendan, halset, ipanol, medilave, mercocet, merothol, pionin B, pristacin, pyrisept, and asept.Physical and chemical properties
Cetylpyridinium chloride has the molecular formula C21H38NCl and at its pure form is in a solid state at room temperatureRoom temperature
-Comfort levels:The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has listings for suggested temperatures and air flow rates in different types of buildings and different environmental circumstances. For example, a single office in a building has an occupancy ratio per...
. It has a melting point of 77 °C when anhydrous
Anhydrous
As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another...
or 80–83 °C in its monohydrate form. It is insoluble in acetone
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
, acetic acid
Acetic acid
Acetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CO2H . It is a colourless liquid that when undiluted is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar , and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell...
, or ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
. It has a pyridine
Pyridine
Pyridine is a basic heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formula C5H5N. It is structurally related to benzene, with one C-H group replaced by a nitrogen atom...
-like odor. It is combustible. Concentrated solutions are destructive to mucous membrane
Mucous membrane
The mucous membranes are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs...
s. It is toxic when swallowed and very toxic when inhaled.
In some products, cetylpyridinium bromide is used instead. Its properties are virtually identical.
Its critical micelle concentration
Critical micelle concentration
In colloidal and surface chemistry, the critical micelle concentration is defined as the concentration of surfactants above which micelles form and almost all additional surfactants added to the system go to micelles....
(CMC) is 0.00124M, corresponding to 0.042% in water.
Toxicology and pharmacology
IVNIntravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
-RAT LD50 30 mg kg−1
ORL-RBT LD50 400 mg kg−1
IVN-RBT LD50 36 mg kg−1
Compendial status
- Food Chemical Codex
- United States PharmacopeiaUnited States PharmacopeiaThe United States Pharmacopeia is the official pharmacopeia of the United States, published dually with the National Formulary as the USP-NF. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention is the nonprofit organization that owns the trademark and copyright to the USP-NF and publishes it every year...
31 - British PharmacopoeiaBritish PharmacopoeiaThe British Pharmacopoeia is an annual published collection of quality standards for UK medicinal substances. It is used by individuals and organizations involved in pharmaceutical research, development, manufacture and testing....
1998