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Acriflavine ( INN: acriflavinium chloride) is a topical
antiseptic An antiseptic ( and ) is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of sepsis, infection, or putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from ''antibiotics'' by the latter's abil ...
. It has the form of an orange or brown powder. It may be harmful in the eyes or if inhaled. It is a dye and it stains the skin and may irritate. The hydrochloride form is more irritating than the neutral form. It is derived from acridine. Commercial preparations are often mixtures with proflavine. It is known by a variety of commercial names.


Uses


Medical use

Acriflavine was developed in 1912 by Paul Ehrlich, a German medical researcher, and was used during the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
against
sleeping sickness African trypanosomiasis is an insect-borne parasitic infection of humans and other animals. Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as African sleeping sickness or simply sleeping sickness, is caused by the species '' Trypanosoma b ...
and as a topical antiseptic.acriflavine ''Encyclopædia Britannica''
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Other uses

Acriflavine is used in biochemistry for fluorescently labeling high molecular weight RNA. It is used as treatment for external fungal infections of aquarium fish.


Research

Acriflavine might be effective in fighting common cold virus, and also aid the fight against increasingly antibiotic resistant bacteria because it can cure (remove) plasmids containing antimicrobial resistance genes from Gram positive bacteria. Since 2014, acriflavine has been undergoing testing as an antimalarial drug to treat parasites with resistance to
quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg ...
and modern anti-parasitic medicines.


Legal status


Australia

Acriflavine is a controlled substance in Australia and dependent on situation, is considered either a Schedule 5 (Caution) or Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) substance. The use, storage and preparation of the chemical is subject to strict state and territory laws.


References


External links

* {{Commons category-inline
ChemExper Chemical Directory
Antiseptics Quaternary ammonium compounds Acridine dyes Chlorides