Ammonium bituminosulfonate

Production

Ichthammol is obtained through three steps from bituminous schists: dry distillation, sulfonation of the resulting oil (or purified fractions thereof), and finally neutralization with ammonia.

Properties

Ichthammol is a viscous, water-soluble substance with a characteristic bitumen-like odor. It is incompatible with acids, alkali carbonates or hydrates and alkaloidal salts. It is a thick reddish brown liquid, possessing a bituminous odor and taste. It is soluble in water and miscible with glycerin, but is nearly insoluble in strong alcohol or concentrated ether. It contains a large percentage of organically combined sulfur.

Chemically speaking ichthammol is a sulfonated shale oil. From elemental analysis, the composition of ichthammol was calculated to be C28H36S5O6(NH4)2. However, as a product of natural origin, it is a mixture of many different compounds.

Similar materials

Similar substances can be made by altering the starting material. An "ammonium sufobitol" (Tumenol-Ammonium), made from light shale oil of the Messel pit, was sold until 2000 in Germany. The Chinese material labelled as "ichthammol" are actually an ersatz product made from vegetable oil.

Ichtasol

| Drugs.com = Ichtasol (USAN: Ictasol) is produced from the light (as opposed to heavy) fraction of distilled shale oil. It has a pale appearance. There appears to be an oral preparation made from this mixture.

Chinese vegetable oil product

"Ichthammol" (鱼石脂 Yushizhi) made in China does not meet standards for ichthammol as specified in United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur), or for the CAS number. Instead of requiring bituminous schists like these definitions, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia definition for "ichthammol" uses ordinary vegetable oil:

As a result, Chinese "ichthammol" is very different from standard ichthammol. The characteristic bitumen-like odor (originating from the bituminous source material) is missing with Chinese material.

Medical use

Skin disorders

It is used to treat a variety of skin disorders as e.g. eczema, psoriasis, Acne rosacea and acne.

According to the "list of preferred Specials" by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) ichthammol can be used in dermatology prescribing to treat acutely inflamed atopic eczema, among others. A corresponding recommendation exists for bituminosulfonates in Germany. According to "guideline atopic eczema" bituminosulfonates can be considered for treatment of atopic eczema based on general clinic experience. In the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) guidelines for treatment of atopic eczema ichthammol is recommended as a useful addition to the basic treatment regimen, especially in mild disease or if TCS treatment is not possible from a patient's perspective, e.g. corticophobia (steroid phobia).

Ear infections

In otology, a mixture of glycerol and ichthammol (G & I) is used for the topical treatment of ear infections. It is effective against Gram-positive bacteria. The anti-inflammatory action is explained by its influence on the formation, secretion, and effect of inflammation mediators.

Availability

Ichthammol is available in pharmacies for compounding medications. Different sources of information exist for exemplary formulations (creams, shake lotions, suppositories, etc.).

Pharmacology

Ichthammol has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties.

Veterinary use

The European Medicines Agency published a summary report on ichthyol-substances (synonym: bituminosulfonates) during the course of the European Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) procedure{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718184519/http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/091004en.pdf |archive-date=2006-07-18

References

References

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