Aluminum sulfate

Identification

Summary

Aluminum sulfate is a medication used to prevent infections and to treat minor bleeding.

Brand Names

Domeboro

Generic Name

Aluminum sulfate

DrugBank Accession Number

DB11239

Background

Aluminum (Al), also spelled aluminum, chemical element, a lightweight, silvery-white metal of main Group 13 (IIIa, or boron group) of the periodic table ⁹.

It is a chemical agent used in water purification, the pH regulation of garden soil, and other commercial or industrial applications. Medically, it is primarily used as a coagulating agent in minor cuts and abrasions as well as deodorant ⁵.

Aluminum (Al) is ubiquitous and represents the third most common element in the Earth’s crust. It most commonly exists in a combined state with various other elements. Al is found in materials used in the pharmaceutical industry, and in manufactured foodstuffs, cosmetics, and tap water. By overcoming the body barriers, Al may infiltrate into the blood and lead to toxic effects in liver, bone and the central nervous system ⁶.

Type

Small Molecule

Groups

Approved

Structure

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MOLSDFPDBSMILESInChI

Similar Structures

Structure for Aluminum sulfate (DB11239)

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Weight

Average: 342.151
Monoisotopic: 341.818264416

Chemical Formula

Al₂O₁₂S₃

Synonyms

• Aluminium sulfate
• Aluminium sulfate anhydrous
• Aluminum sulfate anhydrous
• Aluminum sulphate anhydrous
• Dialuminum sulfate
• Dialuminum trisulfate

External IDs

• E-520
• INS NO.520
• INS-520

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Pharmacology

Indication

Solutions containing 5 to 10% aluminum sulfate have been used as local applications to ulcers and to arrest foul discharges from mucous surfaces. Aluminum sulfate is also used in the preparation of aluminum acetate ear drops ¹⁰. It is often purchased over the counter and is available in solid stick or powder form for minor cuts and abrasions after shaving ¹⁶, ²¹. Aluminum sulfate is also used as an adjuvant in vaccines ¹⁷.

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Associated Conditions

Indication Type	Indication	Combined Product Details	Approval Level	Age Group	Patient Characteristics	Dose Form
Treatment of	Bleeding		••• •••

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Contraindications & Blackbox Warnings

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Pharmacodynamics

Aluminum sulfate may be used as a deodorant, as well as an astringent ¹⁹. Aluminum sulfate is also known as an astringent. Astringents are substances that cause contraction or shrinkage of tissues and that dry up secretion ¹⁹.

Used as a post-shaving treatment, it can eliminate bleeding from superficial wounds ¹⁶, ²¹.

It has also shown in vitro anti-microbial activity ¹⁹.

Mechanism of action

When used as a deodorant, the volume of sweat produced is reduced by narrowing sweat ducts. The inhibition of body odor causing bacteria is another important strategy for deodorization ¹⁹.

By inhibiting or deactivating odor-producing bacteria, there is little to none metabolism of sweat components thus decreasing the occurrence of body odor ¹⁹.

Recent studies suggest that the active binding of alum to the membranes of dendritic cells (DCs) result in alteration of lipid membranes structures as a key process in alum's adjuvant effect in vaccines. As new adjuvants are being developed, alum may remain as an ingredient of adjuvant combinations, or it may eventually be supplemented by other agents that more effectively provide depot and local inflammatory responses to accentuate host immune responses ¹⁷.

Absorption

The degree of aluminum absorption depends on a number of factors, such as the aluminum salt ingested, pH (for aluminum speciation and solubility), bioavailability, as well as dietary conditions ¹⁰.

These facts should be taken into consideration during tissue dosimetry and response assessment to aluminum sulfate. It can be concluded that the use of currently available animal studies to develop a guideline value is inappropriate at this time due to the above specific toxicokinetic/dynamic factors that may affect results ¹⁰.

Volume of distribution

Aluminium which is absorbed is located primarily in the heart, spleen, and bone ¹².

Protein binding

Not Available

Metabolism

Not Available

Route of elimination

Aluminum is excreted predominantly via the kidneys and therefore may accumulate in patients with renal failure ¹⁴. About 2% is excreted in bile ¹⁶.

Half-life

Numerous studies have actually shown that the rate of aluminum clearance in the blood decreases with time following aluminum ingestion, and therefore a single elimination half-life (t1⁄2) cannot depict the whole-body elimination of aluminum ¹⁵.

Clearance

Not Available

Adverse Effects

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Toxicity

Aluminum Sulfate, Hydrated (ACS & FCC): ORAL (LD50): Acute: >9000 mg/kg in the mouse ^MSDS. >9000 mg/kg in the rat ^MSDS.

Acute Toxicity

There is little indication that aluminum is acutely toxic by oral exposure despite it is widely found in foods, drinking water, and many antacid preparations ¹⁰. In 1988, a population of about 20 000 citizens of Camelford, England, was exposed to increased levels of aluminum for 5 days. The aluminum was accidentally ingested by the population from a water supply facility using aluminum sulfate for water treatment ¹⁰.

Some adverse effects observed were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, skin ulcers, skin rashes, and arthritis-type pain were observed. It was concluded in one study that the adverse effects of aluminum sulfate were primarily mild and transient. No long-lasting effects on health could be attributed to the exposures from aluminum in the drinking water during this period ¹⁰.

Chronic Toxicity

In humans, excess exposure to aluminum via dialysis water (aluminum sulfate) is a known etiological factor in several pathological conditions in patients treated with hemodialysis. Clinical symptoms and signs of aluminum toxicity include hypercalcemia, anemia, vitamin D refractory osteodystrophy, and a dialysis encephalopathy. Bone pain, pathological fractures, and proximal myopathy may occur. Aluminum has also been suggested as an etiology of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer senile and pre-senile dementia, as well amyotrophic sclerosis. Despite this, the most recent investigations have failed to confirm this hypothesis. A study in man has verified a number of possible deleterious interactions of aluminum salts with phosphorous metabolism, especially in long-term ingestion of aluminum-containing antacids ¹².

It has been suggested that aluminum exposure is a risk factor for the development or acceleration of onset of Alzheimer disease (AD) in humans. The world health organization has completed a meta-analysis of 20 epidemiological studies done to test the hypothesis that aluminum in drinking-water is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease. Six studies on populations in Norway were considered of sufficiently high quality to meet the general criteria for exposure and outcome assessment and the adjustment for at least some confounding variables ¹⁰.

Of six studies that examined the relationship between aluminum in drinking- water and dementia, three found a positive relationship, but three did not. However, each of the studies had significant deficiencies in the study design (e.g. ecological exposure assessment; failure to consider aluminum exposure from all sources and to control for important confounders, such as education, socioeconomic status, and family history; the use of surrogate outcome measures for AD; and selection bias) ¹⁰.

In general, the relative risks determined were less than 2, with large confidence intervals, when the total aluminum concentration in drinking-water was 0.1 mg/L or higher. Due to the pathogenesis of AD and knowledge obtained from studies, it was concluded that the present epidemiological evidence does not support a causal association between AD and aluminum in drinking-water ¹⁰.

In addition to the epidemiological studies that examined the relationship between AD and aluminum in drinking-water, two studies studied cognitive dysfunction in elderly populations in relation to the levels of aluminum in drinking water. The results proved conflicting. A study of 800 male subjects, age 80-89, drinking water containing aluminum concentrations up to 98 μg/L found no relationship. The second study used “any evidence of mental impairment” as an outcome measure and found a relative risk of 1.72 at aluminum drinking-water concentrations above 85 μg/L in 250 males. Such data are insufficient to show that aluminum is a cause of cognitive impairment in the elderly ¹⁰.

Note on possible risk of breast cancer

Widespread concern has been raised regarding the exposure to aluminum in deodorant/antiperspirant products, with inconclusive results ²², ²³, ²⁴, ²⁵. Results from a more recent case-control study suggest an association between underarm cosmetic use and aluminum concentration in breast tissue and breast cancer. The observed association of underarm cosmetic use with breast cancer was, however, limited to women who report using the products multiple times a day before age of 30 ⁴.

Pathways

Not Available

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Interactions

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This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.

• Approved
• Vet approved
• Nutraceutical
• Illicit
• Withdrawn
• Investigational
• Experimental
• All Drugs

Drug	Interaction
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Carbamazepine	Aluminum sulfate can cause a decrease in the absorption of Carbamazepine resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.
Chenodeoxycholic acid	Aluminum sulfate can cause a decrease in the absorption of Chenodeoxycholic acid resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.
Cholic Acid	Aluminum sulfate can cause a decrease in the absorption of Cholic Acid resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.
Deferasirox	Aluminum sulfate can cause a decrease in the absorption of Deferasirox resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.
Dehydrocholic acid	Aluminum sulfate can cause a decrease in the absorption of Dehydrocholic acid resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy.

Food Interactions

No interactions found.

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Product Ingredients

Ingredient	UNII	CAS	InChI Key
Aluminum sulfate hydrate	34S289N54E	17927-65-0	BUACSMWVFUNQET-UHFFFAOYSA-H
Aluminum sulfate tetradecahydrate	E3UT66504P	16828-12-9	GUNGYIXTFIIJDK-UHFFFAOYSA-H

Active Moieties

Name	Kind	UNII	CAS	InChI Key
Aluminum cation	ionic	3XHB1D032B	22537-23-1	REDXJYDRNCIFBQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Sulfate ion	ionic	7IS9N8KPMG	14808-79-8	QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L

Brand Name Prescription Products

Name	Dosage	Strength	Route	Labeller	Marketing Start	Marketing End	Region	Image
Pascord 7 0.48mg/2.54cm	Packing	0.48 mg / 2.54 cm	Dental	Pascal International Corporation	1992-12-31	1998-07-23

Over the Counter Products

Name	Dosage	Strength	Route	Labeller	Marketing Start	Marketing End	Region	Image
Assured	Powder	56 g/100g	Topical	Greenbrier International, Inc.	2016-04-20	Not applicable
Gingi-Aid MAX Z-Twist 00	Solution	54 mg/1	Dental; Oral; Periodontal	Gingi-Pak a Division of the Belport	1995-01-13	Not applicable
Gingi-Aid MAX Z-Twist 1	Solution	54 mg/1	Dental; Oral; Periodontal	Gingi-Pak a Division of the Belport	1995-01-13	Not applicable
Gingi-Aid MAX Z-Twist 2	Solution	54 mg/1	Dental; Oral; Periodontal	Gingi-Pak a Division of the Belport	1995-01-13	Not applicable
Gingi-Aid MAX Z-Twist 3	Solution	54 mg/1	Dental; Oral; Periodontal	Gingi-Pak a Division of the Belport	1998-07-31	Not applicable

Mixture Products

Name	Ingredients	Dosage	Route	Labeller	Marketing Start	Marketing End	Region	Image
ACETATODE ALUMINIO	Aluminum sulfate (51.8 g) + Calcium acetate (36.45 g)	Powder	Topical	SANOFI AVENTIS DE COLOMBIA S.A.	2006-11-10	Not applicable
Aluminum Acetate Astringent	Aluminum sulfate hydrate (1191 mg/2030mg) + Calcium acetate (839 mg/2030mg)	Powder, for solution	Topical	Tagi Pharma Incorporated	2011-06-15	Not applicable
Aluminum Acetate Astringent	Aluminum sulfate hydrate (1191 mg/2030mg) + Calcium acetate (839 mg/2030mg)	Powder, for solution	Topical	Epic Pharma, LLC	2011-02-28	2013-04-30
Astringent	Aluminum sulfate tetradecahydrate (1347 mg/2299mg) + Calcium acetate monohydrate (952 mg/2299mg)	Powder, for solution	Topical	TAGI Pharma Inc.	2012-06-01	2024-09-30
Astringent	Aluminum sulfate tetradecahydrate (1347 mg/2299mg) + Calcium acetate monohydrate (952 mg/2299mg)	Powder, for solution	Topical	Granulation Technology, Inc.	2023-10-05	Not applicable

Unapproved/Other Products

Name	Ingredients	Dosage	Route	Labeller	Marketing Start	Marketing End	Region	Image
Styptocaine	Aluminum sulfate hydrate (46 g/100mL)	Solution	Topical	Pedinol Pharmacal, Inc.	2011-09-14	2013-11-30

Categories

Drug Categories

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Aluminium Compounds
• Immunologic Factors
• Metal cations
• Metal divalent cations
• Sulfates
• Sulfur Acids
• Sulfur Compounds
• Sulfuric Acids

Chemical TaxonomyProvided by Classyfire

Description

This compound belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as post-transition metal sulfates. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest oxoanion is sulfate, and in which the heaviest atom not in an oxoanion is a post-transition metal.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Mixed metal/non-metal compounds

Class

Post-transition metal oxoanionic compounds

Sub Class

Post-transition metal sulfates

Direct Parent

Post-transition metal sulfates

Alternative Parents

Post-transition metal salts / Inorganic salts / Inorganic oxides

Substituents

Inorganic oxide / Inorganic post-transition metal salt / Inorganic salt / Post-transition metal sulfate

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

aluminium sulfate (CHEBI:74768)

Affected organisms

• Humans and other mammals

Chemical Identifiers

UNII

I7T908772F

CAS number

10043-01-3

InChI Key

DIZPMCHEQGEION-UHFFFAOYSA-H

InChI

InChI=1S/2Al.3H2O4S/c;;3*1-5(2,3)4/h;;3*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q2*+3;;;/p-6

IUPAC Name

dialuminium(3+) trisulfate

SMILES

[Al+3].[Al+3].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O

References

General References

1. Wu YH, Zhou ZM, Xiong YL, Wang YL, Sun JH, Liao HB, Luo XD: Effects of aluminum potassium sulfate on learning, memory, and cholinergic system in mice. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1998 Nov;19(6):509-12. [Article]
2. Cabus N, Oguz EO, Tufan AC, Adiguzel E: A histological study of toxic effects of aluminium sulfate on rat hippocampus. Biotech Histochem. 2015 Feb;90(2):132-9. doi: 10.3109/10520295.2014.965277. Epub 2014 Oct 14. [Article]
3. Cunat L, Lanhers MC, Joyeux M, Burnel D: Bioavailability and intestinal absorption of aluminum in rats: effects of aluminum compounds and some dietary constituents. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2000 Jul;76(1):31-55. doi: 10.1385/BTER:76:1:31. [Article]
4. Darbre PD: Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer. J Inorg Biochem. 2005 Sep;99(9):1912-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2005.06.001. [Article]
5. Aluminum sulfate PubChem [Link]
6. Aluminium sulphate exposure increases oxidative stress and suppresses brain development in Ross broiler chicks [Link]
7. Aluminum Sulfate [Link]
8. Aluminum Sulfate, Brittanica online [Link]
9. Aluminum Sulfate Excipient [Link]
10. Aluminum in Drinking Water [Link]
11. HIS STYPTIC PENCIL- aluminum sulfate stick [Link]
12. EMA document [Link]
13. ToxNet, Aluminum sulfate [Link]
14. InChem, Aluminum Sulfate [Link]
15. PRIORITY SUBSTANCES LIST ASSESSMENT REPORT [Link]
16. Aluminium Toxicokinetics: An Updated MiniReview [Link]
17. Aluminum Sulfate Overview [Link]
18. Hazardous Materials Sheet, NJ [Link]
19. Formulation and evaluation of potash alum as deodorant lotion and after shaving astringent as cream and gel [Link]
20. Use of Underarm Cosmetic Products in Relation to Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study [Link]
21. ASSURED- aluminum sulfate powder [Link]
22. Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer [Link]
23. Underarm antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer [Link]
24. BREAST CANCER AND DEODORANTS/ ANTIPERSPIRANTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW [Link]
25. Influence of Lifestyle Factors on Breast Cancer Risk [Link]

External Links

PubChem Compound

24850

PubChem Substance

347827948

ChemSpider

23233

RxNav

17621

ChEBI

74768

ChEMBL

CHEMBL3833402

Wikipedia

Aluminium_sulfate

MSDS

Download (50.2 KB)

Clinical Trials

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Phase	Status	Purpose	Conditions	Count

Pharmacoeconomics

Manufacturers

Not Available

Packagers

Not Available

Dosage Forms

Form	Route	Strength
Powder	Topical
Powder, for solution	Topical
Powder	Topical	56 g/100g
Tablet	Topical
Solution	Dental; Oral; Periodontal	54 mg/1
Swab	Topical	0.047 g/1
Swab	Topical	0.05 g/1
Stick	Topical	46 mg/1mL
Packing	Dental	0.48 mg / 2.54 cm
Liquid	Dental	250 mg / mL
Powder	Topical	2.2 g
Powder	Topical	2.189 g
Stick	Topical	9 mL/10mL
Packing	Dental	1.45 mg / 2.5 cm
Packing	Dental	0.19 mg / cm
Spray	Topical	373 mg / mL
Gel	Topical	20 %
Stick	Topical	42 %
Solution	Topical	46 g/100mL
Stick	Topical	5.6 g/10g

Prices

Not Available

Patents

Not Available

Properties

State

Solid

Experimental Properties

Property	Value	Source
melting point (°C)	700	http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0068.pdf
boiling point (°C)	1600	http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0068.pdf
water solubility	86.9 g/ 100 ml	MSDS

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	-0.84	Chemaxon
pKa (Strongest Acidic)	-3	Chemaxon
Physiological Charge	-2	Chemaxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	4	Chemaxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	Chemaxon
Polar Surface Area	80.26 Å2	Chemaxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	Chemaxon
Refractivity	11.53 m3·mol-1	Chemaxon
Polarizability	5.81 Å3	Chemaxon
Number of Rings	0	Chemaxon
Bioavailability	1	Chemaxon
Rule of Five	Yes	Chemaxon
Ghose Filter	No	Chemaxon
Veber's Rule	No	Chemaxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	Chemaxon

Predicted ADMET Features

Not Available

Spectra

Mass Spec (NIST)

Not Available

Spectra

Not Available

Chromatographic Properties

Collision Cross Sections (CCS)

Not Available

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Drug created at December 03, 2015 16:51 / Updated at February 20, 2024 23:31