Chemical Properties
Clear or almost clear liquid, or solid crystalline mass, colourless or slightly yellow when freshly prepared. The substance changes colour during storage by darkening and/or discolouration to dark yellow, brownish-yellow or pink.
Uses
Antiseptic. Amylmetacresol is an antiseptic available in Canada over-the-counter in a number of lozenges for the treatment of sore throat and minor mouth infections,. Amylmetacresol is often combined with dichlorobenzyl alcohol and menthol in the commonly used sore throat lozenges, known as Strepsils. The acute sore throat (pharyngitis) is one of the most common conditions for which children are seen in the primary care setting. Pharyngitis is normally caused by viruses and proves benign and self-limiting. Clinically proven, over-the-counter throat lozenges offer rapid and effective relief of acute sore throat symptoms, and are increasingly important in the management of this condition.
Definition
ChEBI: Amylmetacresol is a phenol having the structure of m-cresol substituted at the 6-position with an amyl group. It has a role as an antiseptic drug. It derives from a m-cresol.
Mode of action
The mechanism of virucidal action is not fully elucidated, however it is suggested that denaturation of external protein spikes, a pH-induced rearrangement of the tertiary structure of attachment proteins, or a selective effect on viral lipid membranes/protein–lipid interaction is responsible for this action. Amylmetacresol is an antibacterial and antiviral agent, and blocks voltage-gated Na channels in a local anesthetic-like manner.
