arsanilic acid

Arsanilic acid is an organoarsenical small molecule that was historically employed as a human pharmaceutical under the name Atoxyl, primarily for the treatment of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and syphilis. Its clinical use in humans was largely abandoned in the early 20th century due to significant neurotoxicity, most notably optic nerve atrophy leading to blindness. In modern applications, arsanilic acid is extensively used as a veterinary feed additive in poultry and swine production to promote growth and control intestinal parasites. Within the scientific community, it serves as a standard research reagent to induce chemical vestibular lesions in animal models, such as mice and rats, allowing for the study of vestibular dysfunction and the mechanisms of central vestibular compensation. It is also recognized as an environmental contaminant in agricultural runoff and a potential preanalytical contaminant in human urine samples originating from clinical test strips.

Brand names

Atoxyl

Other names

p-arsanilic acid4-aminophenylarsonic acidASAp-ASAaminophenylarsonic acid