Cetrimide is a quaternary ammonium compound. Cetrimide was first introduced as a combined cleanser and skin antiseptic by Barnes (1942). Cetrimide combines excellent detergent properties and minimal toxicity with a useful antiseptic action. Cetrimide affects membrane permeability allowing ‘leaking’ of essential cell constituents leading to cell death. This medication is a skin antiseptic and disinfectant prescribed for seborrhoeic dermatitis and wound cleansing. The cream has a bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria and incompatible with soaps and other anionic surfactants.

Cetrimide is a quaternary ammonium compound. Cetrimide was first introduced as a combined cleanser and skin antiseptic by Barnes (1942). Cetrimide combines excellent detergent properties and minimal toxicity with a useful antiseptic action. Cetrimide affects membrane permeability allowing ‘leaking’ of essential cell constituents leading to cell death. This medication is a skin antiseptic and disinfectant prescribed for seborrhoeic dermatitis and wound cleansing. The cream has a bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria and incompatible with soaps and other anionic surfactants.

Epirubicin is an anthracycline cytotoxic agent, is a 4'-epi-isomer of doxorubicin. The compound is marketed by Pfizer under the trade name Ellence in the US. It is indicated as a component of adjuvant therapy in patients with evidence of axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer. Although it is known that anthracyclines can interfere with a number of biochemical and biological functions within eukaryotic cells, the precise mechanisms of epirubicin’s cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative properties have not been completely elucidated. It is known, that epirubicin forms a complex with DNA by intercalation of its planar rings between nucleotide base pairs, with consequent inhibition of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) and protein synthesis. Such intercalation triggers DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II, resulting in cytocidal activity. Epirubicin also inhibits DNA helicase activity, preventing the enzymatic separation of double-stranded DNA and interfering with replication and transcription. Epirubicin is also involved in oxidation/reduction reactions by generating cytotoxic free radicals.