Mequinol

Mequinol

Systematic (IUPAC) name
4-Methoxyphenol
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
MedlinePlus	a682437
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	? (CA) ? (US) Unscheduled
Routes	Topical
Identifiers
CAS number	150-76-5 Y
ATC code	D11AX06
PubChem	CID 9015
ChemSpider	8665 Y
UNII	6HT8U7K3AM Y
KEGG	D04926 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL544 Y
Synonyms	4-Hydroxyanisole; para-Guaiacol
Chemical data
Formula	C7H8O2
Mol. mass	124.13722 g/mol
InChI InChI=1S/C7H8O2/c1-9-7-4-2-6(8)3-5-7/h2-5,8H,1H3 Y Key:NWVVVBRKAWDGAB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
Y(what is this?)  (verify)

Mequinol is a drug used in combination with the drug tretinoin in the treatment of liver spots.^[1] Mequinol used alone and in higher doses is used as a topical drug for medical depigmentation.

Chemistry

It is the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone, and an isomer of guaiacol.

It is often used to inhibit polymerization in monomers that polymerize with radical mechanisms, such as acrylates, methacrylates or styrene.

Uses

A combination of mequinol 2% (depigmentation agent) & tretinoin 0.01% (topical retinoid) is commonly used in treating solar lentigines (liver spots & age spots). Exactly how it works is unknown, but this compound is used along with a total skin care and sunlight avoidance program. This compound may also be used for other conditions as determined by one's dermatologist. Methoxyphenol is a depigmentation agent, like Monobenzone (benzyloxyphenol), it is the active ingredient in some depigmenting creams and ointments. A formulation of 20% 4-methoxyphenol ointment causes depigmentation in animal tissue.^[2]

Lower dosages of topical mequinol and the Q-switched Ruby Laser^[3] have been used to depigment normal skin in vitiligo patients with disseminated (greater than 50 percent of body surface area) idiopathic vitiligo.

References