Mequinol

Mequinol Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Mequinol is a phenol used in various applications. It is used as an inhibitor for acrylic monomers and acrylonitirles, as a stabilizer for chlorinated hydrocarbons and ethyl cellulose, as an ultraviolet inhibitor, as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of antioxidants, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, and dyestuffs . It is found as an active ingredient in topical drugs used for skin depigmentation indicated for the treatment of solar lentigines.

Mequinol is in fact considered a melanocytotoxic chemical which when oxidized in melanocytes results in the formation of toxic entities like quinones . Such cytotoxic compounds subsequently have the potential to damage and destroy pigment cells, therefore causing skin depigmentation . In response, skin cells are naturally capable of protecting themselves against such cytotoxic agents with the help of endogenous intracellular glutathione and the detoxification action of glutathione S-transferase on the cytotoxic compounds . Regardless, it is consequently by way of this seemingly negative and damaging pharmacodynamic profile by which the mechanism of action of mequinol is sometimes described .

Mequinol
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Mequinol
Generic	Mequinol
Mequinol Other Names	4-Methoxyphenol, Mequinol
Type
Formula	C₇H₈O₂
Weight	Average: 124.1372 Monoisotopic: 124.0524295
Protein binding	Readily accessible data regarding the protein binding of mequinol is not available.
Groups	Approved
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Mequinol is a topical agent used in combination with tretinoin to treat solar lentigines.

Mequinol is currently primarily available only as an active ingredient in combination products combined with tretinoin that are indicated for the treatment of solar lentigines and related hyperpigmented lesions resulting from chronic sun exposure .

How Mequinol works

Solar lentigines and related hyperpigmented lesions are localized, pigmented, macular lesions of the skin, usually on the areas of the body which have been chronically exposed to sunlight . These lesions are characterized by increased numbers of active melanocytes and increased melanin production .

Although the mechanism of action of mequinol is not fully elucidated , when employed as an active ingredient in combination with other agents like tretinoin in skin depigmentation products, a synergy between a number of potential mechanisms is proposed.

Firstly, mequinol is in fact considered a melanocytotoxic chemical which when oxidized in melanocytes results in the formation of toxic compounds like quinones . Such cytotoxic agents are subsequently capable of damaging and destroying pigment cells, which results in skin depigmentation of solar lentigines or other related hyperpigmented lesions. Nevertheless, skin cells are naturally capable of protecting themselves against such cytotoxic entities by endogenous intracellular glutathione (GSH) . This protection is elicited through the enzymatic action of glutathione S-transferase (GST), which is responsible for the conjugation of agents toxic to glutathione . Conversely, tretinoin has been observed to serve as a potent inhibitor of mammalian GSTs and to be capable of reducing the level of intracellular GSH in various cells . As a result, the combination of mequinol with tretinoin seemingly allows for a synergistic enhancement of a melanocytotoxic effect that involves the inhibition and impairment of GSH and GST cytoprotection .

Secondly, even though mequinol is a substrate for the enzyme tyrosinase and therefore acts as a competitive inhibitor of the formation of melanin precursors by way of tyrosinase facilitated reactions, the clinical significance of this action is unknown .

Toxicity

If a mequinol and tretinoin combination topical product is applied excessively, some potential adverse effects like marked redness, peeling of skin, discomfort, discoloration, or hypopigmentation may occur . Such products are not indicated for oral ingestion .

MSDS data reports that chronic exposure to a dose of 25 UMOL/L in humans can result in mutagenic effects like DNA inhibition in lymphocytes .

Food Interaction

No interactions found.

Volume of Distribution

The volume of distribution is one that suggests mequinol is distributed throughout the total body water, and intracellular concentrations are not expected to vary greatly from gross measurements .

Elimination Route

The systemic exposure to mequinol was assessed in eight healthy subjects following two weeks of twice-daily topical treatment of a tretinoin and mequinol combination product . About dose of the product corresponding to about 37.3 ug/cm^2 of mequinol was applied to the subjects' backs . The mean Cmax for mequinol was 9.92 ng/mL (range between 4.22 and 23.62 ng/mL) and the Tmax was 2 hours (range between 1 to 2 hours) . The safety of mequinol in this combination formulation is supported by the low systemic exposures of the agent in the subjects .

Half Life

Mequinol demonstrated an elimination half-life of 30 to 90 minutes following intravenous infusion of 5 or 10 grams/m^2 over 3 to 5 hours in melanoma patients; similar values were reported after intra-arterial infusion .

Clearance

Readily accessible data regarding the clearance of mequinol is not available. The use of mequinol containing products is typically indicated for topical use.