Acriflavine is a chemical compound widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic. The spelling of this word is based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. Notably, the first syllable of this word is pronounced as "ak-ruh", the second syllable is pronounced as "fluh", while the last syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound. In terms of its chemical properties, acriflavine is a yellow-orange compound that is known to be toxic to certain strains of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Acriflavine is a noun that refers to a chemical compound used primarily as an antiseptic and dye in various biological applications. It is a synthetic substance derived from acridine, which is a class of polycyclic aromatic compounds. Acriflavine is typically available as a yellow or orange powder or as an aqueous solution.
In the medical field, acriflavine is known for its antiseptic properties and is often used as a topical disinfectant for the treatment of various types of wounds and infections. It is particularly effective against gram-positive bacteria but exhibits limited activity against gram-negative bacteria. Acriflavine may also be used as a prophylactic agent in preventing or reducing the risk of postoperative infections.
Furthermore, acriflavine is frequently employed in laboratory settings as a biological dye. It is commonly used for staining nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, due to its affinity for these molecules. The fluorescent properties of acriflavine make it a useful tool in visualizing and analyzing genetic material during experiments and research studies.
Despite its wide range of applications, acriflavine is known to have certain limitations and potential side effects. These may include skin irritation, allergic reactions, and toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Caution should therefore be exercised when handling and using acriflavine, and proper safety measures should be adhered to.
An acridine dye (diamino-methyl-acridinium chloride), possessing very powerful antiseptic properties, especially in the presence of serum; said to be 20 times more powerful than mercuric chloride and 800 times more so than phenol.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Acriflavine" is derived from "acridine", which refers to a class of organic compounds, and "flavine", which is a yellow pigment. Acriflavine is a yellow acridine dye that was first synthesized in the early 20th century.