Skip to main content
Log in

Zinc monoglycerolate — A slow-release source of therapeutic zinc: Solubilization by endogenous ligands

  • Inflammation and Immunomodulation
  • Published:
Agents and Actions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A combination of65Zn-tracer determinations, oxidative analyses for glycerol, and a bioassay for uncomplexed Zn2+ have shown that: (i) zinc monoglycerolate (ZMG) dissolves in aqueous salt dissolutions/physiological media by dissociation into zinc ions and glycerol, but the rate and extent of ZMG dissolution depend upon pH, and/or concentration and complexing efficiency of zinc-ligands; (ii) under physiological conditions certain ligands present in skin and blood (e.g. citrate, lactate, albumin, histidine, glutathione and other thiols and, to a lesser extent, amino acids) accelerate ZMG dissolution; and (iii) there is a general correlation between the conditional stability constants (pH 7.3, 25°C) of zinc-ligand complexes and the ability of given ligands to (a) solubilize ZMGin vitro and (b) mask the irritancy of Zn2+ in vivo. These observations indicate a mechanism for the transformation of ZMG applied transdermally or subcutaneously, to bioactive zinc (anti-arthritic nutritional supplement, etc.).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

Hepes:

N-[2-Hydroxyethyl] piperazine-N 1[2-ethanesulfonic acid]

JCPDS:

Joint Committe of Powder Diffraction Studies (USA)

Mes:

2-[N-Morpholino] ethanesulfonic acid

Pipes:

Piperazine-N,N 1 bis[2-ethanesulfonic acid]

ZMG:

Zinc monoglycerolate

References

  1. E. W. Radoslovich, M. Raupach, P. G. Slade and R. M. Taylor,Crystalline cobalt, zinc manganese and iron alkoxides of glycerol. Aust. J. Chem.23, 1963–1971 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  2. T. W. Hambley and M. R. Snow,The crystal and molecular structure of zinc(II) monoglycerolate. Aust. J. Chem.36, 1249–1253 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. R. M. Taylor and A. J. Brock,Pharmaceutical compound and method. U.K. Patent, 2101132B, 1980; Aust Patent, PCT Au86/00251, 1986.

  4. K. D. Rainsford and M. W. Whitehouse,Anti-ulcer activity of zinc monoglycerolate (Glyzinc R ) a slow-release zinc formulation. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol.12 (Suppl), 119 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. W. Whitehouse, K. D. Rainsford, R. M. Taylor and B. Vernon-Roberts,Zinc monoglycerolate: a slow-release source of zinc with anti-arthritic activity in rats. Agents and Actions31, 47–58 (1990).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. G. Schwarzenbach and H. Flaschka,Complexometric Titrations. Methuen, London 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. Ringbom,Complexation in Analytical Chemistry. Interscience, New York 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  8. The Merck Index 10th (1983) and earlier editions, Merck & Co., Inc, Rahway, N.J.

  9. D. D. Perrin and B. Dempsey,Buffers for pH and Metal Ion Control, 1st edition, p. 176, Chapman and Hall, London, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  10. L. G. Sillen and A. E. Martell,Stability Constants of Metal-Ion Complexes, Special Publication No 17 (1964) p. 754 and No 25 (1971) p. 865. The Chemical Society, London.

    Google Scholar 

  11. M. N. Hughes,The Inorganic Chemistry of Biological Processes, 2nd edition, pp. 55–60, 260, Wiley, New York 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. P. Agarwal and D. D. Perrin,Copper (II) and Zinc(II) complexes of glycylglycyl-l-chistidine and derivatives. J. Chem. Soc. Dalton Trans. 53–57 (1977).

  13. S. Siggia (Ed.)Quantitative Organic Analysis via Functional Groups, 3rd edition, p. 39. Wiley, New York 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. S. Prasad InTrace Elements and Iron in Human Metabolism. (Ed. A. S. Prasad) p. 285, Plenum, New York 1978.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fairlie, D.P., Whitehouse, M.W. & Taylor, R.M. Zinc monoglycerolate — A slow-release source of therapeutic zinc: Solubilization by endogenous ligands. Agents and Actions 36, 152–158 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01991243

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01991243

Keywords

Navigation