: a crystalline oxidation product C4H6N4O3 of uric acid used to promote healing of local wounds and infections

Examples of allantoin in a Sentence

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Then, rice bran, jojoba, and allantoin step in to soothe and hydrate for a radiant finish. Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024 Silymarin, vitamin E, and allantoin work hard to alleviate the feeling of tightness and lock in moisture. Annie Blackman, Allure, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Allantoin, from Allantois allantois + -in -in entry 1; so called because it was found in the allantoic fluid of cows

Note: The term was introduced by Justus von liebig in "Ueber einer neuen Apparat zur Analyse organischer Körper und über die Zusammensetzung einiger organischen Substanzen," Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 2. Folge, 21. Band (1831), p. 34.

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of allantoin was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near allantoin

Cite this Entry

“Allantoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allantoin. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

allantoin

noun
: a nitrogenous compound C4H6N4O3 that occurs in many organisms as a product of the oxidative degradation of purine, is often synthetically manufactured, and is used as an ingredient in various topical products (such as skin cream, shampoo, and makeup) especially to soothe irritated skin, relieve dryness, and promote healing

Note: In humans, allantoin is formed by the oxidation of uric acid and is excreted in the urine.

… a uric acid–specific enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of uric acid to allantoin, an inert water soluble purine metabolite, thereby lowering serum uric acid. Gerald G. Briggs, Rheumatology News
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