The toxicity of phenothiazine.

Phenothiazine, the parent compound of a multitude of present-day drugs, has been employed on an extensive scale for its insecticidal, fungicidal, antibacterial and anthelmintic properties. Almost a catholicon, its widespread use in animals and man has led to the uncovering of many adverse reactions encompassing effects on blood elements, neuromuscular problems and photosensitization. The high lipophilicity of phenothiazine and the formation of two redox systems amongst its many metabolites can facilitate the occurrence of generalised macromolecular disruption. Information from the literature has been garnered and appraised in this review to enable an insight into the possible mode(s) of interaction of phenothiazine with living systems.