Toxicity Summary
IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Lecithins forms a waxy mass when the acid value is about 20; pourable, thick fluid when the acid value is around 30. It is an edible and digestible surfactant and emulsifier of natural origin. Used in margarine, chocolate and in the food industry in general. In addition, it is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It has many other industrial uses, including treating leather and textiles. It is also used as experimental medication. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: In clinical irritation studies, cosmetic formulations containing 0.3% or 3% lecithin 65% (solution of 65% lecithin), a soap containing 0.83% lecithin powder (tested at 0.5%), and lecithin liposomes were generally non-irritating. Barely perceptible erythema was the most severe reaction observed. Hydrogenated lecithin also was not an irritant, and hydrogenated lecithin (15% in petrolatum) was not a sensitizer. Additionally, a tanning oil containing 3% lecithin 65%, a mascara containing 0.1% lecithin 65%, and a foundation containing 0.3% lecithin 65% were non-sensitizing. Administration to human subjects of lecithin in daily doses varying from 22 to 83 g for two to four months to improve working capacity was not accompanied by any untoward reactions. However, lecithin contaminated by soy proteins and used as an excipient in drugs can cause reactions in patients with soy allergy. A foundation containing 0.3% lecithin 65% (solution of 65% lecithin) was not a photosensitizer in human subjects. ANIMAL STUDIES: In single-insult occlusive patch tests (rabbits), lecithin 65% (solution of 65% lecithin) was minimally irritating, products containing 3% lecithin 65% were practically non- to mildly irritating, and a product containing 2.25% lecithin 65% was non-irritating to the skin of rabbits. In a guinea pig immersion study, 0.5% of a soap containing 0.83% lecithin powder was practically non-irritating. Lecithin 65% (solution of 65% lecithin) and products containing 2.25% or 3.0% Lecithin 65% were non- to minimally irritating to unrinsed rabbit eyes. A soap containing 0.83% lecithin powder (tested at 25%) was moderately irritating, and lecithin-containing liposomes were practically nonirritating in a Draize test. After exposing mice to aerosolized lecithin 4 hr/day for 2 days, lungs showed focal endothelial cell swelling and interstitial edema. Mice were fed 5 to 10 mg lecithin mixed with sugar (for palatability), and a second group was fed lecithin (5 to 10 mg) and cholesterol (4 to 5 mg). The mice were bred and their offspring dosed following the same procedures; dosing continued until all mice became moribund or had died. A control group was given laboratory feed ad libitum. The total number of mice fed lecithin, lecithin and cholesterol, or control feed was 166, 212, and 360, respectively. Animals were killed and brain necropsies performed. Brain nerve cell tumors were found in 18 of 73 examined animals fed lecithin and in 27 of 88 examined animals fed lecithin and cholesterol, whereas, no brain nerve cell tumors were found in 188 control animals.

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Effects During Pregnancy and Lactation
◉ Summary of Use during Lactation
Lecithin is a mixture of choline, choline esters, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, phosphoric acid, and phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine that are normal components of human milk. Supplemental lecithin has been recommended as a treatment for plugged milk ducts, and as an additive to human milk that is given to preterm infants via pumping through plastic tubing in order to prevent fat loss. No scientifically valid clinical studies exist on the safety and efficacy of high-dose lecithin supplementation in nursing mothers or infants. Most nursing mothers do not have adequate choline intake and mothers of very preterm infants may have reduced levels of choline in milk. Supplementation with one component of lecithin, phosphatidylcholine, increases choline, but not phosphatidylcholine concentrations in breastmilk and supplementation with choline increases choline metabolites, but not choline in breastmilk. A meta-analysis found that higher maternal choline intake was likely to be associated with better child neurocognition and neurodevelopment. Lecithin is usually well tolerated and is considered to be "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.
◉ Effects in Breastfed Infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
◉ Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

[1]. Pharmaceutical excipients - quality, regulatory and biopharmaceutical considerations. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2016 May 25;87:88-99.

See also: Lecithins, soya (annotation moved to); Lecithin, Soybean (annotation moved to).

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Therapeutic Uses
Surface-Active Agents
/EXPL THER/ Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide commonly found in aquatic environments that has been found to reduce thermal tolerance of fish. Lipotropes such as the food additive, Lecithin has been shown to improve thermal tolerance in fish species. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of lipotropes (lecithin) for enhancing the thermal tolerance of Chanos chanos reared under sublethal low dose endosulfan-induced stress. Two hundred and twenty-five fish were distributed randomly into five treatments, each with three replicates. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were prepared with graded levels of lecithin: normal water and fed with control diet (En0/L0), endosulfan-treated water and fed with control diet (En/L0), endosulfan-treated water and fed with 1% (En/L1%), 1.5% (En/L 1.5%) and 2% (En/L 2%) lecithin supplemented feed. The endosulfan in treated water was maintained at the level of 1/40th of LC50 (0.52ppb). At the end of the five weeks, critical temperature maxima (CTmax), lethal temperature maxima (LTmax), critical temperature minima (CTmin) and lethal temperature minima (LTmin) were Determined. There was a significant (P<0.01) effect of dietary lecithin on temperature tolerance (CTmax, LTmax, CTmin and LTmin) of the groups fed with 1, 1.5 and 2% lecithin-supplemented diet compared to control and endosulfan-exposed groups. Positive correlations were observed between CT max and LTmax (R(2)=0.934) as well as between CTmin and LTmin (R(2)=0.9313). At the end of the thermal tolerance study, endosulfan-induced changes in cellular stress enzymes (Catalase, SOD and GST in liver and gill and neurotansmitter enzyme, brain AChE) were significantly (p<0.01) improved by dietary lecithin. We herein report the role of lecithin in enhancing the thermal tolerance and protection against cellular stress in fish exposed to an organochlorine pesticide.
/EXPL THER/ Suitability of liquid lecithin (i.e., solution of lecithin in soy bean oil with ~60% w/w of phospholipids) for formation of gels, upon addition of water solution of poloxamer 407, was investigated, and formulated systems were evaluated as carriers for percutaneous delivery of ibuprofen. Formulation study of pseudo-ternary system liquid lecithin/poloxamer 407/water at constant liquid lecithin/poloxamer 407 mass ratio (2.0) revealed that minimum concentrations of liquid lecithin and poloxamer 407 required for formation of gel like systems were 15.75% w/w and 13.13% w/w, respectively, while the maximum content of water was 60.62% w/w. The systems comprising water concentrations in a range from 55 to 60.62% w/w were soft semisolids suitable for topical application, and they were selected for physicochemical and biopharmaceutical evaluation. Analysis of conductivity results and light microscopy examination revealed that investigated systems were water dilutable dispersions of spherical oligolamellar associates of phospholipids and triglyceride molecules in the copolymer water solution. Rheological behavior evaluation results indicated that the investigated gels were thermosensitive shear thinning systems. Ibuprofen (5% w/w) was incorporated by dispersing into the previously prepared carriers. Drug-loaded systems were physically stable at storage temperature from 5 +/- 3 °C to 40 +/- 2 °C, for 30 days. In vitro ibuprofen release was in accordance with the Higuchi model (rH>0.95) and sustained for 12 hr. The obtained results implicated that formulated LLPBGs, optimized regarding drug release and organoleptic properties, represent promising carriers for sustained percutaneous drug delivery of poorly soluble drugs.
/EXPL THER/ Some dietary factors could inhibit lead toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary compounds rich in unsaturated fatty acids (FA) on blood lead level, lipid metabolism, and vascular reactivity in rats. Serum metallothionein and organs' lead level were evaluated with the aim of assessing the possible mechanism of unsaturated FA impact on blood lead level. For three months, male Wistar rats that were receiving drinking water with (100 ppm Pb) or without lead acetate were supplemented per os daily with virgin olive oil or linseed oil (0.2 mL/kg b.w.) or egg derived lecithin fraction: "super lecithin" (50 g/kg b.w.). Mesenteric artery was stimulated ex vivo by norepinephrine (NE) administered at six different doses. Lecithin supplementation slightly reduced pressor responses of artery to NE. Lead administered to rats attenuated the beneficial effect of unsaturated FA on lipid metabolism and vascular reactivity to adrenergic stimulation. On the other hand, the super lecithin and linseed oil that were characterized by low omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (about 1) reduced the blood lead concentration. This effect was observed in lead poisoned rats (p < 0.0001) and also in rats nonpoisoned with lead (p < 0.05).
For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for LECITHINS (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

C42H80NO8P

758.06027507782

462.224

8030-76-0

6438359

Color is nearly white when freshly made, but rapidly becomes yellow to brown in air
Light-brown to brown, viscous semiliquid
Waxy mass when the acid value is about 20; pourable, thick fluid when the acid value is around 30

1.3±0.1 g/cm3

603.7±55.0 °C at 760 mmHg

236-237 °C

318.9±31.5 °C

0.0±1.7 mmHg at 25°C

1.574

2.33

0

8

40

52

941

0

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COP(=O)([O-])OCC[N+](C)(C)C)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC

JLPULHDHAOZNQI-AKMCNLDWSA-N

InChI=1S/C42H80NO8P/c1-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-20-21-23-25-27-29-31-33-35-42(45)51-40(39-50-52(46,47)49-37-36-43(3,4)5)38-48-41(44)34-32-30-28-26-24-22-19-17-15-13-11-9-7-2/h14,16,20-21,40H,6-13,15,17-19,22-39H2,1-5H3/b16-14-,21-20-

[3-hexadecanoyloxy-2-[(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyl]oxypropyl] 2-(trimethylazaniumyl)ethyl phosphate

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)

May dissolve in DMSO (in most cases), if not, try other solvents such as H2O, Ethanol, or DMF with a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*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.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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