Salinomycin

Salinomycin	Last updated: 08/09/2025
(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 exhibits stereoisomerism due to its highly complex polyether structure, which includes multiple chiral centres and spiroketal rings. These chiral centres allow for various spatial arrangements of atoms, resulting in distinct diastereomers and optical isomers. Notably, salinomycin can undergo isomerisation under certain conditions, such as in water–methanol solutions at ambient temperature, where its spiroketal rings may open and rearrange to form furan-containing isomers.

Chemical formula

C₄₂H₇₀O₁₁

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

Isomeric SMILES

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

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

KQXDHUJYNAXLNZ-SDCJTGBBSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C42H70O11/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)/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

Natural

Mode of action

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis

Molecular targets

[Cell proliferation in BC cells, Inhibitor]

CAS RN

53003-10-4

EC number

258-290-1

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

3085092

Therapeutic Class

Antiparasitic products, insecticides & repellents: Antiprotozoals

ATCvet Code

QP51AH01

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

751.00

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(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]butanoic acid

CAS name

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

White to pink coloured powder

Related substances & organisms

salinomycin sodium

Commercial

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Authorisation Route

Legal Class (GB/UK)

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

Usage is reported back to early 1980s

Example products (past and present) using this active

Kokcisan 120G

KRKA dd Novo Mesto, Slovenia

Not licensed

Sacox 120 MicroGranulate

Huvepharm NV

Not licensed

Salinomax 120g

Aphaharma BVBA, Belgium

Not licensed

Formulation and application details

Commercial production

Salinomycin is produced through a microbial fermentation process using Streptomyces albus, a soil-dwelling actinomycete known for synthesising polyether ionophores. The production begins with cultivating the microorganism in a nutrient-rich medium, where conditions such as pH, temperature, and aeration are carefully controlled to optimise the transition from primary to secondary metabolism, which triggers salinomycin biosynthesis. During fermentation, sugar is added to support microbial growth, followed by vegetable oil to enhance ionophore production and reduce oxygen depletion. After fermentation the broth is harvested and subjected to acidification, saponification, and filtration using agents like sodium hydroxide, perlite, and calcium carbonate to isolate and purify the compound.

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)

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

Melting point (°C)

113

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

3.16 X 10⁰⁸

Calculated

Log P

8.5

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

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

Moderately persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Data for sandy loam soil

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

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)

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

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

Moderate

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

1030

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 2.02

Rat

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 7 mg kg⁻¹

Mouse

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

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

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

salinomycin

French

salinomycine

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

salinomicina

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	08/09/2025
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