The Sound of Evolution
Hexachlorophene
Mechanism of action:
Hexachlorophene is a bisphenol compound. Hexachlorophene is highly lipophilic and can insert into the lipid bilayer of bacterial cell membranes, altering membrane structure and permeability and causing leakage of important intracellular ions and small molecules. At higher concentrations, hexachlorophene can inhibit bacterial oxidative phosphorylation, reduce ATP production, and prevent bacteria from maintaining essential metabolic activity.
Reference(s):
1. IARC. (1979). Hexachlorophene. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum.
2. Tyrala EE et al. (1977). Clinical pharmacology of hexachlorophene in newborn infants. J Pediatr.
3. Zheng Y et al. (2012). Hexachlorophene is a potent KCNQ1/KCNE1 potassium channel activator which rescues LQTs mutants. PLoS One.