Chemicals and Drugs

Methylcellulose

Methylester of cellulose. Methylcellulose is used as an emulsifying and suspending agent in cosmetics, pharmaceutics and the chemical industry. It is used therapeutically as a bulk laxative.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Methylester of cellulose. Methylcellulose is used as an emulsifying and suspending agent in cosmetics, pharmaceutics and the chemical industry. It is used therapeutically as a bulk laxative.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C20H38O11
Molecular Weight
454.5 g/mol
IUPAC Name
(5R)-2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-5-[(2S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane
InChIKey
YLGXILFCIXHCMC-JHGZEJCSSA-N
SMILES
COCC1[C@H](C(C(C(O1)OC)OC)OC)O[C@H]2C(C(C(C(O2)COC)OC)OC)OC
MeSH Unique ID
D008747
Source
PubChem CID 51063134

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Methyl Cellulose
  • Cellulose, Methyl
  • BFL
  • Celevac
  • Cellothyl
  • Cellulone
  • Citrucel
  • Cologel
  • Dacryolarmes
  • Methocel
  • Muciplasma

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

used in pharm & cosmetic indust; also a cathartic

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Methylcellulose. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008747. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008747
  2. Methylcellulose. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_cellulose
  3. Methylcellulose. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q416312
  4. Methylcellulose. In: PubChem Compound. CID 51063134. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/51063134