X-Message-Number: 15799
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 03:22:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is a bust

The following abstract indicates tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol has
extraordinarily low toxicity. Looked great till I actually read the
full report. It's a typo, that neither the writers of the article, the
editors of the magazine, or Medline's editors caught. :(

________________________________________________________________

Title
  Topical application of
  penetration enhancers to the skin of nude
  mice: a histopathological study.
Source
  Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology.  41(2):118-22, 1989 Feb.
Abstract
  Eighteen potential penetration enhancers,
  some at concentrations that might be used for that purpose, have been
  examined to evaluate their irritancy potential on nude mouse skin. A biopsy
  technique was employed followed by histological examination. Up to 50%
  glycerol, 10% hydroxyethyl lactamide (HELA), 10% oleyl alcohol, 10% Solketal,
  10% glycofurol, 100% tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) and 10% urea induced
  no discernible change in the histological appearance of the skin whereas 100%
  dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), 100% dimethyl formamide (DMF), 100%
  N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 10% Azone, 10% oleic acid, 10% methyl laurate, 10%
  benzyl alcohol and 10% glycerol formal caused severe skin irritation.

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