Salinomycin sodium

Salinomycin sodium	Last updated: 15/09/2025
(Not known by any other names)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

An antibacterial and coccidiostat ionophore drug effective against gram-positive bacteria

Examples of veterinary uses

Used for enhancing animal health and performance but also demostrated to have anticancer activity

Examples of species treated

Chickens; Cattle; Sheep; Rabbits; Pigs

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Not approved

EU Regulatory approval status

Not approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Salinomycin sodium exhibits extensive stereoisomerism due to its highly complex polyether structure, which includes multiple chiral centres and spiroketal ring systems. Specifically, the molecule contains 16 stereocentres, each contributing to its rigid three-dimensional conformation. These chiral centres are located throughout its fused ring system and sugar-like moieties. The biologically active form used in veterinary medicine is a single, well-defined stereoisomer.

Chemical formula

C₄₂H₆₉NaO₁₁

Canonical SMILES

CCC(C1CCC(C(O1)C(C)C(C(C)C(=O)C(CC)C2C(CC(C3(O2)C=CC(C4(O3)CCC(O4)(C)C5CCC(C(O5)C)(CC)O)O)C)C)O)C)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]

Isomeric SMILES

CC[C@H]([C@H]1CC[C@@H]([C@@H](O1)[C@@H](C)[C@@H]([C@H](C)C(=O)[C@H](CC)[C@@H]2[C@H](C[C@H]([C@]3(O2)C=C[C@H]([C@@]4(O3)CC[C@@](O4)(C)[C@H]5CC[C@@]([C@@H](O5)C)(CC)O)O)C)C)O)C)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

YPZYGIQXBGHDBH-UZHRAPRISA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C42H70O11.Na/c1-11-29(38(46)47)31-15-14-23(4)36(50-31)27(8)34(44)26(7)35(45)30(12-2)37-24(5)22-25(6)41(51-37)19-16-32(43)42(53-41)21-20-39(10,52-42)33-17-18-40(48,13-3)28(9)49-33;/h16,19,23-34,36-37,43-44,48H,11-15,17-18,20-22H2,1-10H3,(H,46,47);/q;+1/p-1/t23-,24-,25+,26-,27-,28-,29+,30-,31+,32+,33+,34+,36+,37-,39-,40+,41-,42-;/m0./s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Veterinary substance type

Antibacterial, Coccidiostat, Feed additive, Growth promotor

Substance groups

Ionophore

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Semi-synthetic

Mode of action

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis

Molecular targets

[Cell proliferation in BC cells, Inhibitor]

CAS RN

55721-31-78

EC number

611-309-0

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

23703990

Therapeutic Class

Antiparasitic products, insecticides & repellents: Antiprotozoals

ATCvet Code

QP51AH01

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

773.0

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

sodium;(2R)-2-[(2R,5S,6R)-6-[(2S,3S,4S,6R)-6-[(3S,5S,7R,9S,10S,12R,15R)-3-[(2R,5R,6S)-5-ethyl-5-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]-15-hydroxy-3,10,12-trimethyl-4,6,8-trioxadispiro[4.1.57.35]pentadec-13-en-9-yl]-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-oxooctan-2-yl]-5-methyloxan-2-yl]butanoate

CAS name

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Related substances & organisms

salinomycin

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

Usage is reported back to early 1980s

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Biopharm

Example products using this active

Salimix

Formulation and application details

Usually formulated as a powder for oral administration, typically mixed into feed.

Commercial production

Salinomycin sodium is produced through a microbial fermentation process using Streptomyces albus known for its ability to biosynthesise polyether ionophores. The fermentation is carried out in nutrient-rich media under controlled conditions to optimise yield. After fermentation, the broth is acidified and treated with flocculating agents, then filtered to separate the biomass. The filter cake is subjected to alcoholic extraction, typically using ethanol or methanol, to isolate salinomycin. The extract is then decolorised with activated carbon, filtered again, and concentrated. To obtain the sodium salt form, salinomycin is neutralised with sodium hydroxide, forming salinomycin sodium.

Impact on climate of production and use

As microbial-based products tend to use fermentation-based production processes rather than chemical synthesis, they typically have a lower fossil fuel input in formulation and active ingredient creation, and also have reduced downstream emissions due to biodegradability and minimal soil disruption, their life-cycle GHG emissions are expected to be low. Whilst hard and precise data is not available, broad estimates suggest that typically emissions are likely to be below 5 kg CO₂e/kg.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

3400

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

140

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

3.16 X 10⁰³

Calculated

Log P

3.5

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Environmental release

May be introduced into the environment via the spreading of litter, slurries and manure from treated animals

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

503

Rat as parent acid

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

503

Rat as parent acid

Moderate

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

1030

Rat as parent acid

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 2.02

as parent acid

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Excreted mainly in the urine

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

May induce muscle disorders

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

IMDG Transport Hazard Class 6.1

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

UN3462

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group II (moderate danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

Stable in alkaline solution but less so in acidic solution. Stable up to 50 DegC

TRANSLATIONS

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salinomycin sodium

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Record last updated:	15/09/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242