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Details

Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Molecular Formula C20H7Br2HgO5.2Na.HO
Molecular Weight 750.65
Optical Activity NONE
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of MERBROMIN

SMILES

[OH-].[Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)C1=C(C=CC=C1)C2=C3C=C(Br)C(=O)C=C3OC4=C([Hg+])C([O-])=C(Br)C=C24

InChI

InChIKey=SQFDQLBYJKFDDO-UHFFFAOYSA-K
InChI=1S/C20H9Br2O5.Hg.2Na.H2O/c21-13-5-11-17(7-15(13)23)27-18-8-16(24)14(22)6-12(18)19(11)9-3-1-2-4-10(9)20(25)26;;;;/h1-7,24H,(H,25,26);;;;1H2/q;3*+1;/p-3

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Molecular Formula C20H7Br2HgO5
Molecular Weight 687.66
Charge -1
Count
MOL RATIO 1 MOL RATIO (average)
Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Additional Stereochemistry No
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Optical Activity NONE

Molecular Formula HO
Molecular Weight 17.0073
Charge -1
Count
MOL RATIO 1 MOL RATIO (average)
Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Additional Stereochemistry No
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Optical Activity NONE

Molecular Formula Na
Molecular Weight 22.9898
Charge 1
Count
MOL RATIO 2 MOL RATIO (average)
Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Additional Stereochemistry No
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Optical Activity NONE

Description

Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine) is a topical antiseptic used for minor cuts and scrapes. It is readily available in most countries but, because of its mercury content, it is no longer sold in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United States. Merbromin's best-known use is as a topical antiseptic to treat minor wounds, burns, and scratches. It is also used in the antisepsis of the umbilical cord and the antisepsis of wound of difficult scar formation, like neuropathic ulcers, and diabetic foot sores. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998 classified merbromin as "not Generally Recognized as Safe" together with a multitude of other active compounds, based on the absence of interest on the part of pharmaceutical companies in funding new studies or updated supporting information, due to the high costs of said studies in comparison to sales, rather than due to being toxic. In the United States, its use has been superseded by other agents (e.g., povidone iodine, benzalkonium chloride, chloroxylenol). It is still an important antiseptic, particularly in developing nations, due to its “unbelievably low cost.”

Originator

Approval Year

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Curative
Unknown
Primary
Unknown

Doses

AEs

Sourcing

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
Mercurochrome is 2% aqueous merbromin solution
Route of Administration: Topical
In Vitro Use Guide
Unknown
Substance Class Chemical
Record UNII
M0T18YH28D
Record Status Validated (UNII)
Record Version