Dexpanthenol

Chemical formula: C₉H₁₉NO₄  Molecular mass: 205.252 g/mol  PubChem compound: 131204

Pharmacodynamic properties

Dexpanthenol is converted in tissues to pantothenic acid, a component of coenzyme A (CoA) that is essential to normal epithelial function, increased fibroblast proliferation and accelerated re-epithelialization in wound healing.

This process of cell division and formation of new skin tissue restores skin elasticity and promotes wound healing.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

Dexpanthenol rapidly absorbed into the skin, is immediately converted to pantothenic acid, which is widely distributed into body tissues, mainly as coenzyme A.

Distribution

After topical applications pantothenic acid concentrates in hair, hair roots, nails, epidermis, and corium.

Elimination

The major part of pantothenic acid is excreted unchanged in the urine and to smaller extent in faeces.

Preclinical safety data

Single-dose toxicity

In animals, young rats fed 50mg=day as calcium pantothenate for 190 days had no adverse effects. When bred, their offspring were maintained using the same diets with no signs of abnormal growth or gross pathology. Oral dosing (500 or 2000 mg=kg body weight (bw)=day to rats, 50 mg=kg bw=day to dogs, 200-250 mg=kg bw=day to monkeys) for 6 months produced no toxic signs, weight loss, or evidence of histopathological changes at autopsy.

Subchronic and chronic toxicity

Low concentrations of dexpanthenol (<1%) were not toxic when applied daily for 3 months to the shaved skin of rabbits, thought they did result in slight to moderate erythema, oedema and desquamation.

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