Zinc pyrithione

Description

Zinc pyrithione is a coordination complex of zinc and pyrithione that has antimicrobial and anticancer activities. It is active against the bacteria E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, E. faecium, E. faecalis, and E. cloacae (MICs = 1-4 μg/ml) and the fungus P. ovale when used at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 μg/ml. Zinc pyrithione reduces tumor growth in an SCC-4 mouse xenograft model when administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg per week for six weeks. Formulations containing zinc pyrithione have been used in the treatment of dandruff.

Description

Zinc pyrithione is the zinc complex of 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinethione, or more commonly, pyrithione. Pyrithione was first?synthesized?by E. Shaw and co-workers in 1950. The preparation of the zinc derivative was disclosed by Olin Mathieson in a 1956 British patent, but the compound has been used since the 1930s.
Zinc pyrithione was originally used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is still used as an antifungal, primarily as a treatment for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Its current antibacterial uses are treating?Streptococcus?and?Staphylococcus?infections and psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, and athlete’s foot. Its primary nonmedical use is as a component in exterior paints to protect against mildew and algae.
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Chemical properties

Beige granules

The Uses of Zinc pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione is directly cytotoxic and has antimicrobial effects. Zinc pyrithione is found in many shampoos (DHS-Zinc, Head and Shoulders) and should be applied for 5 minutes daily for 2 weeks.

Zinc pyrithione is the active ingredient in several shampoos used to control dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis and is also effective in the therapy of tinea versicolor. It remains unclear whether the beneficial effects are caused by an antiproliferative or antimicrobial effect or both. It is substantive to the hair, allowing continued therapeutic effect after washing.

The Uses of Zinc pyrithione

zinc pyrithione is a preservative against bacteria, fungi, and yeast. It is unstable in light and in the presence of oxidizing agents. Zinc pyrithione is useful in gels, creams, heavy lotions, and talcum powder.

The Uses of Zinc pyrithione

Reactions may lead to photosensitive eczema and actinic reticuloid syndrome. Zinc pyrithione is used as antifungal, antibacterial and antiseborrheic agent used in many shampoos and hair creams.

What are the applications of Application

1-Hydroxypyridine-2-thione zinc salt is a useful building block for chemical synthesis

Indications

Zinc pyrithione is the active ingredient in several shampoos used to control dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis and is also effective in the therapy of tinea versicolor. It remains unclear whether the beneficial effects are caused by an antiproliferative or antimicrobial effect or both. It is substantive to the hair, allowing continued therapeutic effect after washing.

brand name

Head & Shoulders Conditioner (Procter & Gamble).

General Description

Fine beige granules.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Organometallics, such as Zinc pyrithione, are reactive with many other groups. Incompatible with acids and bases. Organometallics are good reducing agents and therefore incompatible with oxidizing agents. Often reactive with water to generate toxic or flammable gases.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for Zinc pyrithione are not available, but Zinc pyrithione is probably combustible.

Contact allergens

Zinc pyrithione is widely used in antidandruff shampoos and is a classic allergen. Concomitant reactions are expected to both zinc and sodium pyrithione.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, skin contact, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes. Moderately toxic by subcutaneous route. An experimental teratogen. Experimental reproductive effects. An eye irritant. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of NOx, SOx, and ZnO. Used as an anti- dandruff agent in shampoos. See also ZINC COMPOUNDS and SULFIDES.

Synthesis

1000 g of sodium pyrithione, 20% aqueous solution (1.34 mmol of sodium pyrithione) was added to a 2L reactor equipped with a mechanical agitator and warmed to 70 °C with stirring. To the solution was added 190 g of 50 % zinc chloride (0.7 mmol of zinc chloride) over 10 minutes. After the completion of the addition, the solution was stirred at 70 °C for one hour, dehydrated and then washed with 500 g of distilled water. The solid thus obtained was dried with a heated-air drier at 70 °C to have a moisture content of less than 0.5 % and ground with a hammer mill to obtain a find powder of zinc pyrithione. The zinc pyrithione thus obtained was 212 g with a yield of 99.5 %.