Skip to content
merbromin

Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)

EntityQ419070· pop 28· linked from 133 articles

Also known as Mercurochrome

Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine, Mercurocol, Sodium mercurescein, Asceptichrome, Supercrome, Brocasept and Cinfacromin) is an organomercuric disodium salt compound used as a topical antiseptic for minor cuts and scrapes and as a biological dye. While readily available in most countries, it is no longer sold in much of the West, including Switzerland, Brazil, France, Iran, Germany, Denmark, or the United States, due to its mercury content.

Chemical data

Formula
C20H8Br2HgNa2O6
Molecular weight
750.7 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C(=C1)C2=C3C=C(C(=C=C3OC4=CC(=C(C=C42)Br)[O])[O-])Br)C(=O)[O-].[OH-].[Na+].[Na+].[Hg+]
InChIKey
SQFDQLBYJKFDDO-UHFFFAOYSA-K
Polar surface area
74.4 Ų
H-bond donors
1
H-bond acceptors
5
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Research

165 papers

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass
749.818943736
Show 4 more facts
canonical SMILES
c1ccc(c(c1)c2c3cc(c(c(c3oc-4cc(=O)c(cc24)Br)[Hg+])[O-])Br)C(=O)[O-].[OH-].[Na+].[Na+]
chemical formula
C₂₀H₈Br₂HgNa₂O₆
Commons category
Merbromin
NCI Thesaurus ID
C82319
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

~3 min read

Article

5 sections
Contents
  • Uses
  • Synthesis
  • Mercurochrome
  • See also
  • References

Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine, Mercurocol, Sodium mercurescein, Asceptichrome, Supercrome, Brocasept and Cinfacromin) is an organomercuric disodium salt compound used as a topical antiseptic for minor cuts and scrapes and as a biological dye. While readily available in most countries, it is no longer sold in much of the West, including Switzerland, Brazil, France, Iran, Germany, Denmark, or the United States, due to its mercury content.

==Uses== Merbromin's best-known use is as a topical antiseptic to treat minor wounds, burns, and scratches. Merbromin is also antimicrobial. It is also used in the antisepsis of the umbilical cord, and the antisepsis of wounds with inhibited scar formation, such as neuropathic ulcers and diabetic foot sores. When applied on a wound, it stains the skin a distinctive carmine red, which can persist through repeated washings. Due to its persistence and to its lethality to bacteria, Merbromin is useful on infections of the fingernail or toenail.

Gallery (9)

Connections

Categories