Record Information
Version1.0
StatusDetected and Quantified
Creation Date2020-10-27 23:40:30 UTC
Update Date2024-09-27 17:03:56 UTC
Metabolite IDMMDBc0000227
Metabolite Identification
Common NameBenzyl alcohol
DescriptionBenzyl Alcohol is a colorless liquid with a sharp burning taste and slight odor. It is used as a local anesthetic and to reduce pain associated with Lidocaine injection. Also, it is used in the manufacture of other benzyl compounds, as a pharmaceutical aid, and in perfumery and flavoring. Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in a wide variety of cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, and viscosity-decreasing agent. Benzyl Alcohol is metabolized to Benzoic Acid, which reacts with glycine and excreted as hippuric acid in the human body. Acceptable daily intakes were established by the World Health Organization at 5 mg/kg for Benzyl Alcohol. No adverse effects of benzyl alcohol have been seen in chronic exposure animal studies using rats and mice. Effects of Benzyl Alcohol in chronic exposure animal studies are limited to reduced feed intake and reduced growth. Some differences have been noted in one reproductive toxicity study using mice, but these were limited to lower maternal body weights and decreased mean litter weights. Another study also noted that fetal weight was decreased compared to controls, but a third study showed no differences between control and benzyl alcohol-treated groups. Benzyl Alcohol has been associated with an increased number of resorptions and malformations in hamsters, but there have been no reproductive or developmental toxicity findings in studies using mice and rats. Genotoxicity tests for benzyl alcohol are mostly negative, but there were some assays that were positive. Carcinogenicity studies, however, were negative. Clinical data indicates that benzyl alcohol can produce nonimmunologic contact urticaria and nonimmunologic immediate contact reactions, characterized by the appearance of wheals, erythema, and pruritis. 5% benzyl alcohol can elicit a reaction. Benzyl Alcohol is not a sensitizer at 10%. Benzyl Alcohol could be used safely at concentrations up to 5%, but that manufacturers should consider the nonimmunologic phenomena when using benzyl alcohol in cosmetic formulations designed for infants and children. Additionally, Benzyl Alcohol is considered safe up to 10% for use in hair dyes. The limited body exposure, the duration of use, and the frequency of use are considered in concluding that the nonimmunologic reactions would not be a concern. Because of the wide variety of product types in which benzyl alcohol may be used, it is likely that inhalation may be a route of exposure. The available safety tests are not considered sufficient to support the safety of benzyl alcohol in formulations where inhalation is a route of exposure. Inhalation toxicity data are needed to complete the safety assessment of benzyl alcohol where inhalation can occur. (PMID: 11766131 ).
Structure
Synonyms
ValueSource
(Hydroxymethyl)benzeneChEBI
Alcoholum benzylicumChEBI
Alcool benzyliqueChEBI
alpha-HydroxytolueneChEBI
alpha-ToluenolChEBI
Aromatic alcoholChEBI
BenzenecarbinolChEBI
BenzenemethanolChEBI
BenzylalkoholChEBI
Benzylic alcoholChEBI
HydroxymethylbenzeneChEBI
PhenylcarbinolChEBI
PhenylmethanolChEBI
Phenylmethyl alcoholChEBI
UlesfiaKegg
a-HydroxytolueneGenerator
Α-hydroxytolueneGenerator
a-ToluenolGenerator
Α-toluenolGenerator
Alcohol, benzylMeSH
.alpha.-hydroxytolueneHMDB
.alpha.-toluenolHMDB
Aromatic primary alcoholHMDB
BentalolHMDB
Benzal alcoholHMDB
BenzenmethanolHMDB
Benzoyl alcoholHMDB
Benzyl alkoholHMDB
Benzyl-alcoholHMDB
BenzylAlcoholHMDB
BenzylicumHMDB
Caswell no. 081FHMDB
EnzylalcoholHMDB
Euxyl K 100HMDB
HydroxytolueneHMDB
Itch-XHMDB
MBNHMDB
Methanol benzeneHMDB
PhenolcarbinolHMDB
PhenylcarbinolumHMDB
Sunmorl BK 20HMDB
TB 13gHMDB
Benzyl alcoholHMDB
BenzylalcoholHMDB
Molecular FormulaC7H8O
Average Mass108.1378
Monoisotopic Mass108.057514878
IUPAC Namephenylmethanol
Traditional Namebenzyl alcohol
CAS Registry Number100-51-6
SMILES
OCC1=CC=CC=C1
InChI Identifier
InChI=1S/C7H8O/c8-6-7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5,8H,6H2
InChI KeyWVDDGKGOMKODPV-UHFFFAOYSA-N