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Cilostazol (Ref: OPC-13013)
Last updated: 08/09/2025
(Also known as: cilostazolum; cilostazole)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A novel quinolone drug being explored for veterinary applications
Examples of veterinary uses
Used as an alternative medical treatment for canine bradyarrhythmia
Examples of species treated
Dogs
Approval status
VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)
Not approved
EU Regulatory approval status
Not approved
Chemical structure
Isomerism
None
Chemical formula
C₂₀H₂₇N₅O₂
Canonical SMILES
C1CCC(CC1)N2C(=NN=N2)CCCCOC3=CC4=C(C=C3)NC(=O)CC4
Isomeric SMILES
No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
RRGUKTPIGVIEKM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C20H27N5O2/c26-20-12-9-15-14-17(10-11-18(15)21-20)27-13-5-4-8-19-22-23-24-25(19)16-6-2-1-3-7-16/h10-11,14,16H,1-9,12-13H2,(H,21,26)
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name Relationship Link
cilostazol -
General status
Veterinary substance type
Antiplatelet agent, Antithrombotic agent, Medicinal drug
Substance groups
Quinolone
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
A selective inhibitor of 3-type phosphodiesterase (PDE3) with therapeutic focus on increasing cAMP
Molecular targets
[cGMP-inhibited 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase A, Antagonist]
CAS RN
73963-72-1
EC number
-
CIPAC number
-
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
-
Therapeutic Class
Blood and blood forming organs: Antithrombotic agents
ATCvet Code
QB01AC23
Controlled Drug?
No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
-
Molecular mass
369.46
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
-
IUPAC name
6-(4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-2-one
CAS name
6-(4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy)-,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone
Forever chemical
-
Other status information
-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Physical state
White crystalline powder
Commercial
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
Legal Class (GB/UK)
Availability status
-
Introduction & key dates
-
Example products (past and present) using this active
- - - -
Formulation and application details
-
Commercial production
Cilostazol is synthesised through a multi-step chemical process that centres on forming a key ether linkage between two functional components: a carbostyril derivative and a tetrazole derivative. The production begins with the preparation of 6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril, which serves as the core scaffold. This compound is then reacted with 1-cyclohexyl-5-(4-chlorobutyl)-1H-tetrazole in the presence of inorganic bases like potassium carbonate and sodium hydroxide, typically in an ethanol-water mixture under reflux conditions for several hours. The reaction facilitates the formation of the ether bond, yielding cilostazol as the final product.
Impact on climate of production and use
Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used.
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)
160
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
-
Boiling point (°C)
- - -
Degradation point (°C)
- - -
Flashpoint (°C)
- - -
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
2.00 X 1002 Calculated -
Log P
2.3
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
4 = Verified data
Low
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)
- - -
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
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
- - -
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
-
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
- - -
Kfoc (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)
Low risk
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Based on LogP < 3
Low risk
CT₅₀ (days)
- -
Known soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites
Metabolite name and reference
Aliases
Formation medium / Rate
Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
Ref: OPC-13269 - - -
3,4-dihydro-6-[4-(1-(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-2(1H-quinolinone) (Ref: OPC-13213)
Note: Pharmacologically active
HC; 4'-trans-hydroxycilostazol Rat (Urine) ~0.3% administered dose
(6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)- butoxy]-2(1H-quinolinone) (Ref: OPC-13015)
Note: Pharmacologically active
DHC; 3,4-dehydrocilostazol Rat (Urine) ~0.02% administered dose
[6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone] (Ref: OPC-13326)
Note: Pharmacologically active
- Rat (Liver) -
3,4-dihydro-6-[4-[1-(cis-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone)]. (Ref: OPC-13217)
Note: Pharmacologically active
- Rat (Liver) -
Ref: OPC-13366 - - -
Ref: OPC-13388 - - -
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 5000
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Low
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
- - -
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)
> 5000
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Low
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
- - -
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ > 2000 mg kg⁻¹
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
Intramuscular LD₅₀ > 1000 mg kg⁻¹
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
-
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
Fully metabolised which are largely excreted in the urine with <20% being eliminated in the faeces
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment )
4 = Verified data
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
3 = Negative
No data found
Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
No data found
Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found  
General human health issues
May cause headaches and gastrointestinal problems
May cause hypertension
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
{No information available
CLP classification 2013
-
WHO Classification
Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number
-
Waste disposal & packaging
-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
-
TRANSLATIONS
Language
Name
English
cilostazol
French
-
German
-
Danish
-
Italian
-
Spanish
-
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