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USP

Erythromycin

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard

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Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C37H67NO13
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
733.93
Beilstein:
75279
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
41116107
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.24

grade

pharmaceutical primary standard

API family

erythromycin

manufacturer/tradename

USP

application(s)

pharmaceutical (small molecule)

format

neat

storage temp.

−20°C

SMILES string

CC[C@H]1OC(=O)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@H]2C[C@@](C)(OC)[C@@H](O)[C@H](C)O2)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@@H]3O[C@H](C)C[C@@H]([C@H]3O)N(C)C)[C@](C)(O)C[C@@H](C)C(=O)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@]1(C)O

InChI

1S/C37H67NO13/c1-14-25-37(10,45)30(41)20(4)27(39)18(2)16-35(8,44)32(51-34-28(40)24(38(11)12)15-19(3)47-34)21(5)29(22(6)33(43)49-25)50-26-17-36(9,46-13)31(42)23(7)48-26/h18-26,28-32,34,40-42,44-45H,14-17H2,1-13H3/t18-,19-,20+,21+,22-,23+,24+,25-,26+,28-,29+,30-,31+,32-,34+,35-,36-,37-/m1/s1

InChI key

ULGZDMOVFRHVEP-RWJQBGPGSA-N

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General description

Erythromycin is an antibiotic produced by growth of certain strains of Streptomyces erythreus. Erythromycin, a bacteriostatic antibiotic, inhibits the growth of bacteria instead of killing them directly. It functions as a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor and is primarily excreted through bile. Erythromycin consists primarily of erythromycin A (C37H67NO13). The sum of the percentages of erythromycin A, erythromycin B, and erythromycin C is NLT 85.0% and NMT 100.5%, calculated on the anhydrous basis. Erythromycin demonstrates activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as other organisms. Erythromycin has been used as a motilin receptor agonist, to block respiratory glycoconjugate secretion in human airways in vitro, and for selecting plasmid-cured and recombinant lactococcus lactis MG1363 strains.

Erythromycin USP reference standard is provided as delivered and specified by the issuing Pharmacopoeia. All information provided in support of this product, including MSDS and any product information leaflets, have been developed and issued under the Authority of the issuing Pharmacopoeia. For further information and support please go to the website of the issuing Pharmacopoeia.

Application

Erythromycin USP reference standard is used in specified quality tests and assays. It is also used to prepare the standard solution for spectroscopic identification tests, assays, and organic impurities analysis. It is also used in the preparation of standard solution as described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monographs for identification, assay, and dissolution tests using thin-layer chromatography in:

  • Erythromycin Pledgets
  • Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment
  • Erythromycin Topical Solution
  • Erythromycin Delayed-Release Tablets
Further information is available in the monograph chapter, Erythromycin, USP43-NF38 – 1683 of the USP (United States Pharmacopeia).

Biochem/physiol Actions

Mode of Action: Erythromycin acts by inhibiting elongation at the transpeptidation step, specifically aminoacyl translocation from the A-site to P-site by binding to the 50s subunit of the bacterial 70s rRNA complex.

Antimicrobial Spectrum: This product acts against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Caution

This product is stable in solution at 37°C for 3 days. Stock solutions should be stored at 2-8°C.

Preparation Note

This product is soluble in water at 2 mg/mL, with a 0.067% solution in water yielding a pH of 8.0-10.5. It is also soluble in ethanol at 50 mg/mL, yielding a clear, colorless to faint yellow solution. It is freely soluble in alcohol, acetone, chloroform, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate but forms salts with acids. All solutions should be protected from light.

Other Notes

This product is part of the USP Biologics program.

Legal Information

This product is provided as delivered and specified by the issuing Pharmacopoeia. All information provided in support of this product, including SDS and any product information leaflets have been developed and issued under the Authority of the issuing Pharmacopoeia.For further information and support please go to the website of the issuing Pharmacopoeia.

related product

Product No.
Description
Pricing

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable


Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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Erythromycin Pledgets
USP43-NF38 - 1690:United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
United States Pharmacopeia, 34(5) (2013)
Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment
USP43-NF38 - 1689:United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
United States Pharmacopeia, 39(5) (2017)
Erythromycin
USP43-NF38 - 1683:United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
United States Pharmacopeia, 48(1) (2020)
Erythromycin Delayed-Release Tablets
USP43-NF38 - 1691:United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
United States Pharmacopeia, 39(3) (2023)
Erythromycin Topical Solution
USP43-NF38 - 1690:United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary
United States Pharmacopeia (2013)

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