Triclosan Research Paper

Words: 402
Pages: 2

The drug Triclosan is a chemical used in a variety of detergents, cleaners, and sanitizers to kill bacteria and other microbes. The mechanism through which this drug interferes the bacteria is through their cell membrane. In low concentrations Triclosan prevents fatty acid synthesis which prevents the target cell form growing in number, while in large concentrations Triclosan kills the target cell by attacking the cell membrane. However, this drug has some different effects when it is taken in by humans. Multiple studies have shown Mitochondrial Toxicity of Triclosan on mammalian cells. The studies, which have been done on a variety of cells in the human body, have shown that the drug depolarizes the mitochondria of the cell. This depolarization created an increase in glucose consumption and lead to metabolic acidosis. In consumer products Triclosan is used an antibacterial agent, however, in the human body the drug can cause damage to the mitochondria of cells targeted by the drug. …show more content…
Once absorbed by the body, Triclosan is conjugated with glucuronide and sulfate conjugates which is the excreted. The compounds that metabolize the drug are created in the liver. However, the Triclosan drug goes out about the same way that it comes in. The human body does not have an effective mechanism for breaking down this compound. Inside the body, Triclosan is suspected to act as an endocrine disruptor. In animal test the drug interferes with thyroid hormones which are critical for growth. Triclosan is a dug that the body does not have a way to break down and that can cause damage while it is being passed through the