Triclosan, a compound used as a household antimicrobial agent, is dangerous not only for microorganisms, but also for humans, according to scientists from the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences..

They conducted a series of experiments on laboratory animals, which proved the danger of this antibacterial agent for mammals, including humans..

The advantage of triclosan has long been considered the selectivity of action: it acts on a certain enzyme involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, which is present in bacteria, but absent in mammalian eukaryotic cells.. Therefore, since the 60s of the last century, this substance has been widely used in hygiene products, considering it safe..

Over time, as data accumulated, it became clear that triclosan somehow affects mammalian cells, causing their death.. Therefore, this antibacterial component is toxic to humans, but the mechanism of action was not entirely clear.. Scientists from ITEB RAS tested the hypothesis of cell death due to the effect of triclosan on mitochondria, energy-producing organelles. The effect was tested on mitochondria isolated from rat liver cells.. The researchers found that triclosan molecules interact with the inner membrane of the mitochondria and literally “make holes, or pores” in it..

“Various ions and molecules from the outside, including water, penetrate into the organelle through the pores. As a result, mitochondria swell, which leads to the release of pro-apoptotic proteins (for example, cytochrome c) from the organelles.. These proteins trigger the cell death program.. In practice, this means that the accumulation of triclosan in our body will have a harmful effect.. It is even possible that triclosan is more harmful to mammals than to microbes,” the scientists explained..

The US recently banned the use of triclosan in liquid and solid soaps, but there are countries where it continues to be used, according to Konstantin Belosludtsev, lead researcher at the Mitochondrial Transport Laboratory, Doctor of Biology..

aspect. net.