Propylene glycol (PG) as an antifungal?

[Guest guest]

Hi Are, Jill, David, & All,

 

Are Thoresen " wrote:

> Propyleneglycollum is a liquid oil, that is known in veterinary ...

> and human medicine to kill fungus.

 

Jill wrote:

> Thanks for the info Are. Jill

 

David Sontag wrote:

> A google search has nothing with that spelling ... where can one find

> this?? Thanks, David

 

See: http://www.doctorfungus and search for onychomycosis.

 

Alternatively, go to

http://www.doctorfungus.org/mycoses/human/other/onychomycosis_gen

eral.htm

 

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG), also called Propanediol, is a colorless,

viscous, hygroscopic liquid CH3CHOHCH2OH, used in Antifreeze,

brake-fluid, hydraulic fluids, humectants, etc. It is used in cosmetics,

body lotions, shampoos, etc because it prevents skin from drying out.

However, some people are hypersensitive to it.

 

It is a petrolium-derived compound that is very slippery, and often is

used as part of a liquid vehicle for fungicides. For example, see:

http://www.folica.com/Orly_Fungus_MD__d513.html and

http://www.showfeedsinc.com/products/FinalFungus.htm

 

It is used also to carry the active ingredients in transdermal patches into

the body. Also, many antifungal mixtures include PG as a solvent /

vehicle and to aid penetration of the active fungicides into the body.

 

In veterinary medicine, PG is given orally to treat acetonaemia / ketosis

in cattle/sheep. It is a propionate precursor, useful in ketosis. See:

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/umnuser/formulary.html#Propylene

 

*Propylene glycol: ruminants-50-500 ml (ov-bov) PO SID-BID of 96%

solution. Used for treatment of ketosis in ruminants. Can also be used

as a diluent for oral administration of non-water soluble drugs, i.e.

ivermectin.

 

Though PG has some antifungal and antibacterial action in its own right,

another glycol (hexylene glycol) is three times more potent than PG as

an antifungal agent. See: Acta Derm Venereol. 1991;71(2):148-50:

 

Antibacterial and antifungal properties of propylene glycol, hexylene

glycol, and 1,3-butylene glycol in vitro. Kinnunen T, Koskela M.

Department of Dermatology, University of Oulu, Finland. The

antimicrobial properties of three glycols, - propylene glycol, hexylene

glycol, and 1,3-butylene glycol - against Candida albicans,

Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus

pyogenes A, Streptococcus mitis, and E. coli were studied in vitro.

Within 20 h, 10% and 30% hexylene glycol in fresh tryptic soy broth

were able to kill all the micro-organisms listed above. Five percent

hexylene glycol showed some antimicrobial properties but the 1% agent

had no effect. Thirty percent 1,3-butylene glycol and 30% propylene

glycol were approximately as effective as 10% HG. The results speak in

favour of using hexylene glycol in cosmetic and dermatological vehicles

instead of propylene glycol and 1,3-butylene glycol. PMID: 1675525

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

In conclusion, though PG has some antifungal action per se, and is

used as a vehicle / penetrant in antifungal topical solutions, there are far

more powerful antifungal / antimycotic agents than the glycols.

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

 

Tel: (H): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

 

 

 

 

Ireland.

Tel: (W): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

 

 

 

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