Denatonium Benzoate: Uses and Safety

Denatonium Benzoate (DB), chemically known as benzyldiethyl (2,6-xylylcarbamoyl)-methyl-ammoniumbenzoate, is a quaternary ammonium compound. It is a white, odorless solid that is almost insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol, and insoluble in ether. It is the most bitter substance known to man, and its taste is still detectable when diluted to 1 part in 20 million parts of water. It was used as an effective denaturant in the early days and is the first choice for denaturing ethanol used in toiletries, rubbing alcohol, and some skin disinfectants. In addition, it can also be used as pesticides, coatings, polymer composites, and biochemical reagents.

Uses

Denatonium Benzoate can be added to paints. Paints containing DB can be used as topcoats for toxic (i.e., lead) paints, and its bitter taste can prevent the ingestion of toxic paints. In the biological field, Denatonium Benzoate is an agonist of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs). TAS2Rs can be detected in many non-sensory tissues. Studies have shown that DB has anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects in carrageenan-induced exudative inflammation and hyperalgesia models. This activity may be related to the reduction of PGE2 levels. In addition, DB is also a potent potentiator of glucose-independent islet hormone secretion. DB (0.5-1 mM) enhanced insulin secretion at both 2.8 mM and 16.7 mM glucose. This effect was no longer present at 5 mM DB, possibly due to higher levels of apoptosis. DB-stimulated insulin secretion involves closure of KATP channels, activation of T2R signaling in β cells, and release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in islets. DB also enhanced the secretion of glucagon and somatostatin, but the mechanism of action is unclear.

Denatonium Benzoate and capsicum oleoresin (CO) mixed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix can also be used to prepare rodent-proof polymer composites. The material has anti-chewing, surface morphology, thermomechanical and rheological properties, and good rodent-proofing effect.

Safety

However, asthma and itching have been reported with the use of insecticide sprays and alcohol skin disinfectants containing Denatonium Benzoate. And it has been confirmed that contact urticaria caused by DB is caused by an immune mechanism of the type of immediate hypersensitivity reaction.

When humans ingest 10 ppm of denatonium benzoate, it produces an extremely bitter, unpleasant taste. Adding denatonium benzoate to liquid dishwashing liquid and orange juice can reduce children's intake. Denatonium benzoate has low toxicity, with an acute oral median lethal dose (LD50) of 485-740 mg/kg in rats. The use of bittering agents such as denatonium benzoate can reduce the ingestion of toxic substances by dogs, cats, other animals and children.

To evaluate the potential of this bittering agent in preventing accidental poisoning, researchers observed the reaction of young children to denatonium benzyl (Bitrex). The researchers provided orange juice containing Bitrex (at a concentration of 10 ppm) to 33 children aged 17-36 months. Of the 30 children who drank some of this juice, only 7 were willing to drink more than 10 grams. The researchers noted a variety of negative verbal and non-verbal reactions. The researchers believe that the extremely unpalatable nature of Bitrex makes this compound a useful additive that can be well prevented from accidental poisonings from household products with mild to moderate toxicity.

References:

[1] S R HANSEN V R B C Janssen. Denatonium benzoate as a deterrent to ingestion of toxic substances: toxicity and efficacy.[J]. Veterinary and human toxicology, 1993.

[2] BJÖRKNER B. Contact urticaria and asthma from denatonium benzoate (Bitrex®)[J]. Contact Dermatitis, 1980. DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1980.tb05568.x.

[3] J R SIBERT N F. Bittering agents in the prevention of accidental poisoning: children’s reactions to denatonium benzoate (Bitrex).[J]. Archives of emergency medicine, 1991. DOI:10.1136/emj.8.1.1.

[4] KOKOVA V. DENATONIUM BENZOATE ATTENUATES INFLAMMATION AND PAIN AND DECREASES PGE2 LEVELS IN RATS[J]. FARMACIA, 2022. DOI:10.31925/farmacia.2022.2.6.

[5] WEIKUN HUANG. Effects of a bitter substance, denatonium benzoate, on pancreatic hormone secretion.[J]. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 2024. DOI:10.1152/ajpendo.00046.2024.

[6] LAONGDAW TECHAWINYUTHAM. Anti-Gnawing, Thermo-Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride: Effect of Capsicum Oleoresin and Denatonium Benzoate[J]. Journal of Composites Science, 2021. DOI:10.3390/jcs6010008.

You may like