Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
No chloroxylenol was detected in the blood following the dermal administration of 2 g of p-chloroxylenol in an ethanol/olive oil vehicle in human subjects. After a dose of 5 g, only traces were found, after 8 g, 1 mg % (1 mg/dL) was found in the blood after 3 hours, and 4 mg % (4 mg/dL) after 24 hours. After a dose of 20 g, 4 mg % (4 mg/dL) was measured after half an hour, and 1 mg % (1 mg/dL) was present at 72 hours. For antiseptic purposes, chloroxylenol is considered to be well-absorbed when applied to the skin.
The major route of excretion is likely in urine, although some amounts may be found in bile and traces in exhaled air.
The only data available regarding the volume of distribution of chloroxylenol is the mean Vss of 22.45 L determined after 200 mg intravenous single dose of chloroxylenol was administered to healthy mongrel dog subjects.
The only data available regarding the clearance of chloroxylenol is the mean clearance rate of 13.76 L/hr following a 200 mg intravenous single dose of the substance into healthy mongrel dog subjects. Moreover, in another study, when 8 g of chloroxylenol was administered dermal on a human subject in an alcohol/glycerin vehicle, 11% was excreted in 48 hours.
Mongrel dogs received iv and oral single doses of 200 and 2000 mg 4-chloro-3,5-xylenol, respectively. Low range of absorption was noted. Kidneys were not the major route for rapid elimination of unchanged 4-chloro-3,5-xylenol.
Tests of a 25 percent solution of chloroxylenol with Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrated the chemical was practically all eliminated in the first 24 hours, mostly in the urine, with small amounts in feces, after oral or dermal exposure. Following dermal exposure, about half of the material was not absorbed. High concentrations were found in the tissues of the kidney, which indicates excretion in urine. Concentrations in the lungs indicates some elimination in expired air.
In a study /with/ beagle dogs dosed orally excreted virtually all of the chloroxylenol in their urine within 24 hours. A small amount was present in feces, but essentially none remained in any tissue.
The pharmacokinetic and metabolic profile of p-chloro-m-xylenol (PCMX) was studied in healthy mongrel dogs after intravenous and oral administration of single doses of 200 and 2000 mg of PCMX, respectively. ... The mean half-life and mean residence time were 1.84 and 1.69 hr. respectively. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state was estimated to be 22.4 liters, and the plasma clearance was 14.6 liters/hr. The bioavailability of PCMX was 21%. ... PCMX's metabolite data show that a presystemic elimination process (first-pass effect) is also occurring. PCMX plasma concentrations after intravenous administration of 500-, 200-, and 100-mg doses were found to be proportional to the dose given.

---

Metabolism / Metabolites
Certain animal studies have shown that following dermal application of chloroxylenol, that the absorption was rapid with a Cmax = 1-2 hours, and that the administered substance was excreted via the kidney with almost complete elimination within 24 hours. The primary metabolites discovered in the excreted urine were glucuronides and sulfates. Some chloroxylenol monographs liken its pharmacokinetic profile to that of another antiseptic - triclosan - which is rapidly excreted in the urine also as a glucuronide metabolite, as observed in the human model. Moreover, In one human subject administered 5 mg intragluteally, 14% was excreted with glucuronic acid and 17% with sulfuric acid at 3 days. Any chloroxylenol absorbed into the body is likely extensively metabolized by the liver and rapidly excreted, mainly in the urine, as sulphate and glucuronide conjugates.
Mongrel dogs received iv and oral single doses of 200 and 2000 mg 4-chloro-3,5-xylenol, respectively. ...Main metabolites found in the urine were glucuronides and sulfates.

---

Biological Half-Life
One study estimated the mean terminal half-life and mean residence time after a 200 mg intravenous single dose of chloroxylenol in healthy mongrel dog subjects to be 1.7 and 1.69 hours, respectively. Alternatively, some product monographs liken chloroxylenol to a similar liquid antiseptic, triclosan, whose calculated urinary excretion half-life in man is approximately 10 hours.

Protein Binding
One study determined the protein binding of chloroxylenol to be approximately 85.2% +/- 2.32% for serum albumin and 89.8% +/- 2.99% for whole human serum.

[1]. Shigatoxin encoding Bacteriophage ϕ24B modulates bacterial metabolism to raise antimicrobial tolerance. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 20;7:40424.

[2]. The action of three antiseptics/disinfectants against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. J Hosp Infect. 1998 Apr;38(4):283-95.

[3]. Antimicrobial agent chloroxylenol targets β‑catenin‑mediated Wnt signaling and exerts anticancer activity in colorectal cancer. Int J Oncol. 2023 Nov;63(5):121.

4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol is a member of the class of phenols that is 3,5-xylenol which is substituted at position 4 by chlorine. It is bactericidal against most Gram-positive bacteria but less effective against Staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria, and often inactive against Pseudomonas species. It is ineffective against bacterial spores. It has a role as an antiseptic drug, a disinfectant and a molluscicide. It is a member of phenols and a member of monochlorobenzenes. It is functionally related to a 3,5-xylenol.
Chloroxylenol, or para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX), is an antiseptic and disinfectant agent used for skin disinfection and surgical instruments. It is found in antibacterial soaps, wound-cleansing applications, and household antiseptics. The halophenol is shown to be most effective against Gram positive bacteria where it disrupts the cell wall due to its phenolic nature. Chloroxylenol is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
See also: Phenol (has active moiety); Chloroxylenol; triclosan (component of); Benzocaine; Chloroxylenol (component of) ... View More ...

---

Drug Indication
The predominant medical applications for which chloroxylenol is formally indicated for therapeutic use is as an application to the skin for use in cuts, bites, stings, abrasions, and for use as antiseptic hand cleaner.

---

Mechanism of Action
As a phenol antiseptic, it is believed that the hydroxyl -OH groups of the chloroxylenol molecule binds to certain proteins on the cell membrane of bacteria, and disrupts the membrane so as to allow the contents of the bacterial cell to leak out. This allows chloroxylenol to enter the bacterial cell to bind further with more proteins and enzymes to disable the cell's functioning. At particularly high concentrations of chloroxylenol, the protein and nucleic acid content of targeted bacterial cells become coagulated and cease to function, leading to rapid cell death.

C8H9CLO

156.6095

156.034

88-04-0

Chloroxylenol-d6;1407521-66-7

2723

White to off-white solid powder

1.2±0.1 g/cm3

246.0±0.0 °C at 760 mmHg

114-116 °C(lit.)

105.9±25.9 °C

0.0±0.5 mmHg at 25°C

1.558

3.35

1

1

0

10

104

0

OSDLLIBGSJNGJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C8H9ClO/c1-5-3-7(10)4-6(2)8(5)9/h3-4,10H,1-2H3

4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO : ≥ 100 mg/mL (~638.53 mM)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (15.96 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

---

Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (15.96 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

---

View More

Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (15.96 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

---

 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)