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Trade names | Ascabin, Ascabiol, Ascarbin, Tenutex, others |
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Synonyms | benzoic acid phenylmethyl ester, benzy alcohol benzoic ester |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.004.003 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C14H12O2 |
Molar mass | 212.25 g·mol−1 |
3D model (Jmol) | |
Density | 1.118 g/cm3 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 18 °C (64 °F) |
Boiling point | 323 °C (613 °F) |
Solubility in water | insoluble mg/mL (20 °C) |
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Benzyl benzoate (BnBzO), sold under the brand name Scabanca among others, is a medication and insect repellant. As a medication it is used to treat scabies and lice. For scabies either permethrin or malathion is typically preferred. It is applied to the skin as a lotion. Typically two to three applications are needed.
Side effects may include irritation of the skin. It is not recommended in children. It is also used in other animals; however, is toxic to cats. How it works is unclear.
Benzyl benzoate was first studied medically in 1918. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medication needeIt is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Benzyl benzoate is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.21 to 0.53 USD per 100 mls. It is not available for medical use in the United States. In the United Kingdom it costs the NHS about 2.50 pounds for 500 mLs.
Benzyl benzoate is an effective and inexpensive topical treatment for human scabies. It has vasodilating and spasmolytic effects and is present in many asthma and whooping cough drugs. It is also used as an excipient in some testosterone-replacement medications (like Nebido) for treating hypogonadism.