ammonium chloride

Ammonium chloride is an inorganic compound (NH4Cl) that functions as a systemic and urinary acidifying agent. Clinically, it is approved for the treatment of severe metabolic alkalosis and is used as an expectorant in various cough preparations. In research settings, ammonium chloride is characterized as a lysosomal autophagy inhibitor that increases intralysosomal pH, leading to oxidative stress, mitochondrial depolarization, and caspase-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells such as B16 melanoma. It has also been studied for its ability to inhibit the progression of urinary bladder tumors by lowering the environmental pH. Its molecular effects include the inhibition of the mTOR pathway, activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling, and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors such as p53, Bim, PTEN, and PUMA.

Brand names

Ammonium chloride

Other names

NH4ClNH-4ClNH 4ClSal ammoniac