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International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research
2013, Vol.3, No.6, 23
-
33
http://ijmvr.sophiapublisher.com
23
Research Report
Open Access
Pharmacology and Clinical Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): AReview
Manjunath Patil
1
, Shivaprakash B.V.
2
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gulbarga,UAS, Raichur, Karnataka, India
2 Dept. of VSR, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bidar, Karnataka, India
Corresponding author email: manjunathpatil.2010@rediffmail.com;
Authors
International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2013, Vol.3, No.6 doi: 10.5376/ijmvr.2013.03.0006
Received: 27 Mar., 2013
Accepted: 11 Apr., 2013
Published: 20 Aug., 2013
Copyright
© 2013 Manjunath and Shivaprakash. This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Manjunath and Shivaprakash, 2013, Pharmacology and Clinical Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): A Review, International Journal of Molecular Veterinary
Research, Vol.3, No.6 23-33 (doi: 10.5376/ ijmvr.2013.03.0006)
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide is having a pyramidal structure, CH
3
-SO-CH
3
. It is a dipolar, aprotic and highly hygroscopic solvent.
It readily penetrates the skin within 5 minutes after cutaneous application. It enhances penetration of Anaesthetic, cardioactive,
anticholinesterase and other not-innocuous therapeutic agents. It is recommended for acute sprains, strains, bursitis and their
associated soft tissue swellings and haematoma. Combination therapy of DMSO with antibiotics or steroids enhances the healing of
cutaneous habronemiasis or summer sores, bumble foot, acral lick dermatitis, arthritis, and mastitis. It is considered to have a low
toxicity. Chronic thermal, chemical exposure of DMSO solvent and higher levels of chemical contaminants with severe electrical
burns causes the invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the upper extremities in human beings. The therapeutic intravenous dose is
about 1.0 g/kg in 10~45% solution administered slowly in humans, cats, dogs and horses. Intra articular administration of DMSO
reduced severity of chemically induced synovitis in horses.
Keywords
Pharmacology; Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); Radioscavenging property; Therapeutic applications
1 Introduction
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), in trace amounts occurs
naturally in fresh and ocean water and in rain. It is
commercially produced quite inexpensively from
lignin, a by product of paper making industry in the
United States and coal and petroleum in Europe
(Bartfeld and Goldstein 1975; Jacob and Herschler,
1983). It occurs as a waste product from processing
wood pulp (Booth and McDonald, 1982).
The FDA approved therapeutic veterinary preparations
are DOMOSO
®
and SYNOTIC
®
(Diamond Laboratories
Inc., Des Moines, Iowa). While the FDA approved
medical preparation is RIMSO-50
®
(Research Industries
Inc.), which contains 50% DMSO solution.
Dimethyl sulfoxide is having a pyramidal structure,
CH
3
-SO-CH
3
. The sulfur-oxygen bond is quite polar,
giving the liquid a high dielectric constant. It is a clear
liquid with a boiling point of 189
℃
at 1 atmosphere
pressure and has a specific gravity of 1.0958 at 25
℃
(Booth and McDonald, 1982).
It is a dipolar, aprotic and highly hygroscopic solvent
(MacGregor, 1967; Weissman et al., 1967; David,
1972; Kharasch and Thyagarajan, 1983; and Windholz,
1983). Pure DMSO is rapidly diluted to a
concentration of 66% to 67% when it is exposed to
room air (MacGregor, 1967; Szmant, 1967; and
Kharasch and Thyagarajan, 1983). Hydration of
DMSO is an exothermic reaction, the heat evolved is
readily appreciated when DMSO is applied to skin and
react with water from air and from underlying tissue
(MacGregor, 1967; David, 1972; Jacob and Herschler,
1983; and Kharasch and Thyagarajan, 1983).
2 History
Earliest history on Dimethyl sulfoxide can be traced to
1867 when a Russian Chemist, Alexander Saytzeff,
described the oxidation of Dimethyl sulfide into
Dimethyl sulfoxide and further described some of its
remarkable solvent properties (Leake, 1967; and
Bartfeld and Goldstein, 1975). There was a little
interest in DMSO until 1950 when its solvent
properties were exploited for use in many industrial
processes. Industrial researchers discovered that it is a
solvent for many herbicides, fungicides, antibiotics