General Description
White crystals. Practically neutral aqueous solution.
Reactivity Profile
An acidic organic salt. Materials in this group are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible. Many of these compounds catalyze organic reactions.
Air & Water Reactions
Deliquescent. Very soluble in water.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is relatively nonflammable.
Description
Choline chloride is a plant growth regulator. It is highly soluble in water, is not volatile or persistent in soil systems. Based on its physico-chemical properties it has potential to leach to groundwaters. It tends not to be highly toxic to biodiversity although available data is limited. Choline chloride has a low mammalian toxicity and whilst it may be a skin and eye irritant no evidence has been found to suggest exposure may cause chronic health conditions.
Application
Choline chloride has been used:
as a component of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) buffer and for choline uptake in cultured human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cells
for choline standard curve generation for quantifying phospholipase D (PLD) activity
as a component of slice solution for the dissection of entorhinal-hippocampal brain slices
Uses
Choline chloride is an animal feed additive, classified as a water-soluble B-vitamin that increases animal growth. ChCl is added exogenously to feedstocks because it plays an essential role in fat transport and metabolism and protects cell membrane structure. It can be supplied to tissue culture media and animal feed additives and used as a clinical anti-fatty liver agent.
It can be used to treat fatty liver and cirrhosis. It can also be used as a feed additive, stimulating the ovaries to give birth to more eggs and farrow. It can also facilitate the weight-gaining process of livestock, fish, etc.
Choline chloride is effective in preventing and treating fat deposition and tissue degeneration in livestock and poultry organs. It can also promote the absorption and synthesis of amino acids. Moreover, it can enhance livestock's physical fitness and disease resistance, promote their growth and development, and improve poultry laying rate. The usage amount is 1-2 g/kg.
As a kind of feed additive, choline chloride has the following physiological effects: it can prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver and the kidney and tissue degeneration; it can promote the recombination of amino acids; it can improve the utilization efficiency of amino acids, especially the essential amino acid methionine in vivo. In Japan, 98% of the applied choline chloride is used as feed additives for chickens, pigs, cattle, fish, and other animals. Most of them have been processed into powder; the preparation process of 50% powder is that: first, add an appropriate excipient of specific particle size into the mixer prepared by previously adding an appropriate particle size of the excipient, and then add dropwise of aqueous solution of choline chloride, after mixing, drying to derive it. Some powder products are also blended with vitamins, minerals, and drugs. Choline chloride is a vitamin B-class drug that can be used for the treatment of hepatitis, liver function degradation, early cirrhosis, and pernicious anemia.
It is a precursor of acetylcholine and is a methyl donor in various metabolic processes and lipid metabolism.
Definition
ChEBI: A quaternary ammonium salt with choline cation and chloride anion.
Production Methods
Choline chloride is produced commercially primarily via the reaction of ethylene oxide, hydrochloric acid, and trimethylamine. Ethylene oxide is reacted with trimethylamine to form choline hydroxide. The choline hydroxide is then neutralised with hydrochloric acid to produce choline chloride. The resulting choline chloride is purified to remove any impurities.
benefits
choleretic, lipotropic, hepatoprotectant
Biochem/physiol Actions
The enzymatic activities of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1), two serum enzymes synthesized by the liver and related with inflammation, were decreased in a sepsis animal model injected with LPS. Choline chloride administered intravenously at 20 mg/kg body weight prevents the LPS-mediated decreases in the activities of these two enzymes .
Mechanism of action
Probable enhanced formation of plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). Serves as a precursor molecule in several essential biological pathways
Purification Methods
Extremely deliquescent. Check purity by AgNO3 titration or by titration of OH-base after passage through an anion-exchange column. Crystallise it from absolute EtOH, or EtOH/Et2O, dry it under vacuum and store it in a vacuum desiccator over P2O5 or Mg(ClO4)2. [Beilstein 4 IV 1443.]
Pesticide Type
Plant Growth Regulator; Veterinary substance
