Allantoin
Allantoin
Allantoin (pronounced: al-lan-toe-in) is a chemical compound with the formula C4H6N4O3. It is a diureide of glyoxylic acid.
Etymology
The term Allantoin is derived from the Greek word 'allantois', an extra-embryonic membrane in reptiles, birds, and mammals, where the compound was first discovered.
Description
Allantoin is a major metabolic intermediate in many organisms including plants, bacteria, and mammals. It is produced from uric acid, which itself is a degradation product of nucleic acids. Allantoin is a white, odorless, crystalline powder. It is soluble in hot water, hot alcohol, and dilute sodium hydroxide solution but practically insoluble in most organic solvents.
Uses
Allantoin is used in a variety of cosmetic products due to its beneficial properties for the skin. It is known to have keratolytic, moisturizing, and soothing effects. It promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration, making it a common ingredient in skincare products like creams, lotions, and sun care products. It is also used in pharmaceuticals for its healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties.
Related Terms
- Glyoxylic Acid: An organic compound that is a simple aldehyde. It is a colorless liquid and is an intermediate of the glyoxylate cycle, which enables certain organisms to convert fats into carbohydrates.
- Uric Acid: A heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates.
- Keratolytic: A class of drugs that are used to treat skin conditions such as warts, psoriasis, eczema, corns, and calluses.
- Diureide: A class of organic compounds that contain two urea residues.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Allantoin
- Wikipedia's article - Allantoin
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski