Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Alessia Catalano
Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
Jessica Ceramella
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Carmela Saturnino
Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Lara Salvagno
Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
Ileana Ielo
Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Palermo, Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Villa S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
Dario Drommi
Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Villa S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
Elisabetta Scali
Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Maria Rosaria Plutino
Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials, ISMN-CNR, Palermo, Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, Villa S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
Giuseppe Rosace
Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24044 Dalmine, Italy
Maria Stefania Sinicropi
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, it was discovered that the substitution on aromatic rings of hydrogen atoms with chlorine yielded a novel chemistry of antimicrobials. However, within a few years, many of these compounds and formulations showed adverse effects, including human toxicity, ecotoxicity, and unwanted environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, quickly leading to regulatory bans and phase-outs. Among these, the triclocarban, a polychlorinated aromatic antimicrobial agent, was employed as a major ingredient of toys, clothing, food packaging materials, food industry floors, medical supplies, and especially of personal care products, such as soaps, toothpaste, and shampoo. Triclocarban has been widely used for over 50 years, but only recently some concerns were raised about its endocrine disruptive properties. In September 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned its use in over-the-counter hand and body washes because of its toxicity. The withdrawal of triclocarban has prompted the efforts to search for new antimicrobial compounds and several analogues of triclocarban have also been studied. In this review, an examination of different facets of triclocarban and its analogues will be analyzed.
