Identification
- Summary
Phenoxyethanol is an antiseptic used as a hand disinfectant or preservative in medications.
- Generic Name
- Phenoxyethanol
- DrugBank Accession Number
- DB11304
- Background
Phenoxyethanol is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. It is a glycol ether used as a perfume fixative, insect repellent, antiseptic, solvent, preservative, and also as an anesthetic in fish aquaculture. Phenoxyethanol is an ether alcohol with aromatic properties. It is both naturally found and manufactured synthetically. Demonstrating antimicrobial ability, phenoxyethanol acts as an effective preservative in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and lubricants 5.
Phenoxyethanol (EU), or PE, is the most commonly used globally-approved preservative in personal care formulations. It is very easy to use in various types of formulations and is chemically stable. Phenoxyethanol is a colorless, clear, oily liquid with a faint aromatic odor at room temperature and a low water solubility and evaporation rate. It is produced by reacting phenol (EU) and ethylene oxide (EU) at a high temperature and pressure. This substance occurs naturally in green tea (EU) 6.
According to the European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EC) n.1223/2009, phenoxyethanol is authorized as a preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0% 8.
Phenoxyethanol has been classified as an antimicrobial and preservative by Health Canada 7. It has also been used in vaccines and shown to inactivate bacteria, and several types of yeast 2.
- Type
- Small Molecule
- Groups
- Approved
- Structure
Structure for Phenoxyethanol (DB11304)
- Weight
- Average: 138.166
Monoisotopic: 138.068079562 - Chemical Formula
- C8H10O2
- Synonyms
- 1-Hydroxy-2-phenoxyethane
- 2-Hydroxyethyl phenyl ether
- 2-phenoxyethanol
- 2-Phenoxyethyl alcohol
- beta-Hydroxyethyl phenyl ether
- Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether
- Phenoxytol
- Phenyl cellosolve
- Phenylmonoglycol ether
- External IDs
- FEMA NO. 4620
Pharmacology
- Indication
Antimicrobial agent used as a preservative in cosmetics 4, 5, 8.
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- Contraindications & Blackbox Warnings
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This substance has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeasts, and mold 6.
- Mechanism of action
Phenoxyethanol has antibacterial properties and is effective against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa even in the presence of 20% serum. It not as effective against Proteus vulgaris, other gram-negative organisms, and gram-positive organisms. Phenoxyethanol has been used as a preservative at a concentration of 1%. A wider spectrum of antimicrobial activity is achieved with preservative mixtures of phenoxyethanol and hydroxybenzoates. Phenoxyethanol may be used as a 2.2% solution or a 2% cream for the treatment of superficial wounds, burns, or abscesses infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In skin infection, derivatives of phenoxyethanol are used in combination with either cyclic acid or zinc undecenoate 7.
- Absorption
Not Available
- Volume of distribution
A pharmacokinetic study of phenoxyethanol was performed using a mass spectrometry model for simultaneous analysis of phenoxyethanol (PE) and its major metabolite, phenoxyacetic acid (PAA), in rat plasma, urine, and 7 different tissues 10.
The absolute topical bioavailability of PE was 75.4% and 76.0% for emulsion and lotion, respectively. Conversion of PE to PAA was extensive, with the average AUCPAA-to-AUCPE ratio being 4.4 and 5.3 for emulsion and lotion, respectively. The steady-state tissue-to-plasma PE concentration ratio (Kp) was higher than unity for kidney, spleen, heart, brain, and testis and was lower (0.6) for lung and liver, while the metabolite Kp ratio was higher than unity for kidney, liver, lung, and testis and was lower (0.3) for other tissues 10.
- Protein binding
Not Available
- Metabolism
The fate of phenoxyethanol in rats and humans has been investigated 4. The rate of intestinal absorption was rapid, with 60-70% of the excreted (14)C detected at 3 hours and > 95% of the total 4-day urinary (14)C detected within the first 24 hr. Trace amounts of radioactivity were detected in feces. Four days after dosing, only trace amounts of radioactivity remained in the carcass, primarily in the liver (< 0.2% of the dose), fat and muscle. At the 4 day point, the (14)C concentration in blood was measured to be only 0.001 4.
The major metabolite of phenoxyethanol is phenoxyacetic acid 10.
- Route of elimination
The fate of phenoxyethanol in rats and humans has been investigated. More than 90% of an oral dose of 16, 27 or 160 mg/kg body weight of (2-(14)C)phenoxyethanol administered to male Colworth rats by was excreted in the urine within 24 hours of administration. A female rat also excreted about 90% of a dose of 27 mg/kg body weight in the urine within 24 hours. About 2% and 1.3% of the ingested dose was recovered from the exhaled air of female and male rats, respectively 4.
- Half-life
Not Available
- Clearance
Not Available
- Adverse Effects
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LC50 oral, rat; 1980 mg/kg MSDS. LD50 Rabbit dermal 2250 mg/kg 4.
2-Phenoxyethanol (PhE) has been shown to induce hepatotoxicity, renal toxicity, and hemolysis at dosages ≥ 400 mg/kg/day in subchronic and chronic studies in multiple species 3.
The major hazards encountered in the use and handling of 2-phenoxyethanol stem from its toxicologic properties. Toxic by all routes (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact), exposure to this very faintly aromatic, colorless, oily liquid may occur from its use as a fixative for cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps; as a bactericide and insect repellant; as a solvent for cellulose acetate,dyes, stamp pad, ball point, and specialty inks; as a chemical intermediate for carboxylic acid esters (eg, acrylate, maleate) and polymers (eg, formaldehyde, melamine); and as a preservative for human specimens used for dissection and demonstrations in anatomical studies. Effects resulting from exposure to this substance can include eye irritation, headache, tremors, and central nervous system depression. If contact with the eyes occurs, irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes, and wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water. 2-Phenoxyethanol must be preheated before ignition can occur 7.
- Pathways
- Not Available
- Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs Browse all" title="About SNP Mediated Effects/ADRs" id="snp-actions-info" class="drug-info-popup" href="javascript:void(0);">
- Not Available
Interactions
- Drug Interactions Learn More" title="About Drug Interactions" id="structured-interactions-info" class="drug-info-popup" href="javascript:void(0);">
- 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.
Drug Interaction Integrate drug-drug
interactions in your softwareBaclofen Baclofen may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Phenoxyethanol. Clobazam The risk or severity of sedation, somnolence, and CNS depression can be increased when Clobazam is combined with Phenoxyethanol. Cyclobenzaprine The risk or severity of CNS depression can be increased when Cyclobenzaprine is combined with Phenoxyethanol. Daridorexant The risk or severity of CNS depression can be increased when Phenoxyethanol is combined with Daridorexant. Fluoxetine Phenoxyethanol may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Fluoxetine. - Food Interactions
- No interactions found.
Products
Drug product information from 10+ global regionsOur datasets provide approved product information including:dosage, form, labeller, route of administration, and marketing period.Access drug product information from over 10 global regions.- Over the Counter Products
Name Dosage Strength Route Labeller Marketing Start Marketing End Region Image Cpap Wipes Cloth 0.3 g/1001 Cutaneous Shenzhen Shierjie Biological Engineering Co., LTD 2023-08-04 Not applicable US 
DISINFECT Wet WIPES Cloth 1 mg/1 Topical Jiangsu Xiaolikang Medical Technology Co., Ltd. 2020-03-30 Not applicable US Grime Eater Lotion Soap 2.5% Soap 2.5 % Topical Grime Eater Products Ltd. 1988-12-31 2005-06-17 Canada 
Lanohex Nettoyeur Pour LA Peau 1.7% Liquid 1.7 % Topical Rougier Pharma Division Of Ratiopharm Inc 1960-12-31 2003-09-22 Canada Lanohex Shp 1.7% Shampoo 1.7 % Topical Rougier Pharma Division Of Ratiopharm Inc 1960-12-31 2000-09-07 Canada - Mixture Products
Name Ingredients Dosage Route Labeller Marketing Start Marketing End Region Image 75% Alcohol Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.1938 g/51) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.0969 g/51) + Benzethonium chloride (0.0646 g/51) + Bronopol (0.0969 g/51) + Ethanol (242.25 g/51) Cloth Topical Baijieyuan Biotechnology (Shandong) Co., Ltd. 2020-06-10 2020-06-16 US Acropole Bleu Phenoxyethanol (.45 %) + Chloroxylenol (.15 %) Jelly Topical Groupe Parall Inc 1997-10-01 2001-07-23 Canada Aiweier Alcohol Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.1938 g/201) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.0969 g/201) + Benzethonium chloride (0.0646 g/201) + Bronopol (0.0969 g/201) + Ethanol (242.25 g/201) Cloth Topical Baijieyuan Biotechnology (Shandong) Co., Ltd. 2020-06-10 Not applicable US Aiweier Disinfecttant Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.081 g/601) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.0405 g/601) + Benzethonium chloride (0.027 g/601) + Bronopol (0.0405 g/601) + Ethanol (101.25 g/601) Cloth Topical Baijieyuan Biotechnology (Shandong) Co., Ltd. 2020-06-10 Not applicable US Aiweier Disinfecttant Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.18 g/1001) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.09 g/1001) + Benzethonium chloride (0.06 g/1001) + Bronopol (0.09 g/1001) + Ethanol (225 g/1001) Cloth Topical Baijieyuan Biotechnology (Shandong) Co., Ltd. 2020-06-10 Not applicable US - Unapproved/Other Products
Name Ingredients Dosage Route Labeller Marketing Start Marketing End Region Image Cpap Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.3 g/1001) Cloth Cutaneous Shenzhen Shierjie Biological Engineering Co., LTD 2023-08-04 Not applicable US DISINFECT Wet WIPES Phenoxyethanol (1 mg/1) Cloth Topical Jiangsu Xiaolikang Medical Technology Co., Ltd. 2020-03-30 Not applicable US Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.6 g/1601) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.12 g/1601) + Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (0.24 g/1601) + Ethylhexylglycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Glycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Propylene glycol (0.12 g/1601) Cloth Extracorporeal Reynard (Ningbo) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 2020-06-12 Not applicable US Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.6 g/1601) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.12 g/1601) + Ethylhexylglycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Glycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Propylene glycol (0.12 g/1601) Cloth Extracorporeal Reynard (Ningbo) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 2020-04-17 2020-05-29 US Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes Phenoxyethanol (0.6 g/1601) + Benzalkonium chloride (0.12 g/1601) + Ethylhexylglycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Glycerin (0.12 g/1601) + Propylene glycol (0.12 g/1601) Cloth Extracorporeal Reynard (Ningbo) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 2020-04-17 2020-05-29 US
Categories
- Drug Categories
- Chemical TaxonomyProvided by Classyfire
- Description
- This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as phenol ethers. These are aromatic compounds containing an ether group substituted with a benzene ring.
- Kingdom
- Organic compounds
- Super Class
- Benzenoids
- Class
- Phenol ethers
- Sub Class
- Not Available
- Direct Parent
- Phenol ethers
- Alternative Parents
- Phenoxy compounds / Alkyl aryl ethers / Primary alcohols / Hydrocarbon derivatives
- Substituents
- Alcohol / Alkyl aryl ether / Aromatic homomonocyclic compound / Ether / Hydrocarbon derivative / Monocyclic benzene moiety / Organic oxygen compound / Organooxygen compound / Phenol ether / Phenoxy compound
- Molecular Framework
- Aromatic homomonocyclic compounds
- External Descriptors
- aromatic ether, primary alcohol, hydroxyether (CHEBI:64275)
- Affected organisms
- Humans and other mammals
Chemical Identifiers
- UNII
- HIE492ZZ3T
- CAS number
- 122-99-6
- InChI Key
- QCDWFXQBSFUVSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C8H10O2/c9-6-7-10-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5,9H,6-7H2
- IUPAC Name
- 2-phenoxyethan-1-ol
- SMILES
References
- General References
- Morton WE: Occupational phenoxyethanol neurotoxicity: a report of three cases. J Occup Med. 1990 Jan;32(1):42-5. [Article]
- Lowe I, Southern J: The antimicrobial activity of phenoxyethanol in vaccines. Lett Appl Microbiol. 1994 Feb;18(2):115-6. [Article]
- Troutman JA, Rick DL, Stuard SB, Fisher J, Bartels MJ: Development of a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model of 2-phenoxyethanol and its metabolite phenoxyacetic acid in rats and humans to address toxicokinetic uncertainty in risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2015 Nov;73(2):530-43. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.07.012. Epub 2015 Jul 16. [Article]
- Phenoxyethanol [Link]
- Phenoxyethanol - Brumer [Link]
- Phenoxyethanol: A Globally-Approved Preservative [Link]
- Health Canada: Phenoxyethanol [Link]
- Opinion on Phenoxyethanol - EU Law and Publications [Link]
- pharmacokinetic model of 2-phenoxyethanol and its metabolite phenoxyacetic acid in rats and humans to address toxicokinetic uncertainty in risk assessment [Link]
- Simultaneous determination of phenoxyethanol and its major metabolite, phenoxyacetic acid, in rat biological matrices by LC–MS/MS with polarity switching: Application to ADME studies [Link]
- External Links
- Human Metabolome Database
- HMDB0041607
- PubChem Compound
- 31236
- PubChem Substance
- 347827964
- ChemSpider
- 13848467
- 89552
- ChEBI
- 64275
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL1229846
- ZINC
- ZINC000001577061
- PDBe Ligand
- 268
- Wikipedia
- Phenoxyethanol
- PDB Entries
- 2rbr
- MSDS
- Download (37.8 KB)
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Learn More" title="About Clinical Trials" id="clinical-trials-info" class="drug-info-popup" href="javascript:void(0);">
Phase Status Purpose Conditions Count
Pharmacoeconomics
- Manufacturers
- Not Available
- Packagers
- Not Available
- Dosage Forms
Form Route Strength Jelly Topical Liquid Topical Cloth Cutaneous 0.3 g/1001 Cloth Topical 1 mg/1 Cloth Topical Cloth Extracorporeal Dressing Topical Soap Topical 2.5 % Patch Topical Liquid Topical 1.7 % Shampoo Topical 1.7 % Spray Topical Gel Topical Solution Topical Liquid Topical 1.5 mg/100mL Swab Topical - Prices
- Not Available
- Patents
- Not Available
Properties
- State
- Liquid
- Experimental Properties
Property Value Source melting point (°C) 13 MSDS boiling point (°C) 245 MSDS water solubility 24g/L at 20°C MSDS - Predicted Properties
Property Value Source Water Solubility 24.1 mg/mL ALOGPS logP 1.22 ALOGPS logP 1.13 Chemaxon logS -0.76 ALOGPS pKa (Strongest Acidic) 15.1 Chemaxon pKa (Strongest Basic) -2.8 Chemaxon Physiological Charge 0 Chemaxon Hydrogen Acceptor Count 2 Chemaxon Hydrogen Donor Count 1 Chemaxon Polar Surface Area 29.46 Å2 Chemaxon Rotatable Bond Count 3 Chemaxon Refractivity 38.81 m3·mol-1 Chemaxon Polarizability 14.91 Å3 Chemaxon Number of Rings 1 Chemaxon Bioavailability 1 Chemaxon Rule of Five Yes Chemaxon Ghose Filter No Chemaxon Veber's Rule Yes Chemaxon MDDR-like Rule No Chemaxon - Predicted ADMET Features
- Not Available
Spectra
- Mass Spec (NIST)
- Not Available
- Spectra
- Chromatographic Properties
Collision Cross Sections (CCS)
Not Available
Drug created at December 03, 2015 16:52 / Updated at January 08, 2021 01:05