Description
Benzocaine is a local anesthetic drug. It is directly applied to the skin and used as a topical pain reliever or in cough drops. Benzocaine works by creating a chemical barrier that halts the build up of sodium, which accumulates as the nerve endings are stimulated by pain. When sodium builds up, electrical signals also build in the nerve ending and are transmitted to the brain, which interprets the signals as pain. Benzocaine hydrochloride is a salt modification of benzocaine, formed when benzocaine is complexed with hydrochloric acid. Compared to benzocaine, benzocaine hydrochloride is more water soluble, making it more appropriate for oral administration.
Benzocaine hydrochloride is usually made into powder or oil paste and used to heal wounds, ulcers, burns, skin abrasion, and hemorrhoids. Through the reduction in the excretion of ammonia and carbon dioxide of fish by benzocaine hydrochloride, the pH and alkalinity values of the transport water remains constant, thereby, benzocaine hydrochloride is used as an aid in the transport of fish.
References
[1] J.T. Ferreira, H.J. Schoonbee, G. L. Smit (1984) The use of benzocaine-hydrochloride as an aid in the transport of fish, Aquaculture, 42, 169-174
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzocaine
Uses
Benzocaine Hydrochloride can be used as promising MAO inhibitors.
Application
Benzocaine hydrochloride is an antimicrobial agent that belongs to the group of quaternary ammonium compounds. It is a local anesthetic and topical antiseptic that is used in topical formulations for the treatment of infectious diseases. It is active against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis. It has been shown to have no adverse effects on blood groups and has been found to be safe in toxicity studies. This compound has been shown to have a direct effect on Na channels and may also inhibit the growth of bacterial cells by affecting their cell membranes. It can be obtained in crystalline form or as an amorphous solid, which may affect its rate of dissolution and therefore its clinical relevance.
Mode of action
Benzocaine Hydrochloride is a surface anesthetic that acts by preventing transmission of impulses along nerve fibers and at nerve endings. Nearly all local anesthetics act by reducing the tendency of voltage-dependent sodium channels to activate.
