Mannitol: Nature's magical manna, the medical field's right-hand man

Introduction

In nature, there is a wonderful substance called mannitol, which is widely found in seaweed, fruits, and the leaves, stems, and roots of plants. This substance not only has a unique sweet taste but also becomes an indispensable member of the medical field because of its unique physiological activity and medical application value. This article will take you to appreciate its magic charm, and explore its wide application in the medical field and future development.

Overview of mannitol

Mannitol, C₆H₁₄O₆, is a sugar alcohol that is an isomer of sorbitol. It is soluble in water and is a white crystalline powder with a sweet taste similar to sucrose. Because of its unique physical and chemical properties, mannitol has been widely used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and other fields. Especially in the field of medicine, as a dehydrating agent, diuretic, and cerebrovascular dredging agent, it plays an important role in the treatment of many diseases.¹

Extraction and preparation

Mannitol is extracted mainly from seaweed, fruits, and plants in nature. Currently, the classic method of production is extraction from kelp. This method has the advantages of abundant raw materials, simple process, and low cost. Through extraction and preparation, high-purity mannitol can be obtained, providing high-quality raw materials for medicine.²

The application in the medical field

Tissue dehydrate

As a tissue-dehydrating drug, mannitol has been widely used in the medical field. It can reduce intracranial pressure by increasing plasma osmotic pressure and dehydrating tissue. Therefore, it is often used to treat cerebral edema caused by various reasons, such as brain trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and so on. In lung cancer patients and patients with cancer brain metastases, it is also often used as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs.³

Osmotic diuretics

Mannitol also has osmotic diuretic effects, which can promote the excretion of urine and reduce water retention in the body. Therefore, it is often used to treat nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver ascites, and other diseases. In these diseases, it can be used as an auxiliary diuretic measure to help patients expel excess water and toxins from the body.⁴

Preoperative bowel preparation

Mannitol can also be used as a bowel preparation drug before surgery or colonoscopy. By oral administration, it can increase the osmotic pressure in the intestine, prevent the absorption of intestinal water, and promote the expulsion of intestinal contents. This can effectively clean the intestine and provide good conditions for surgery or examination.⁵

Otolaryngology applications

In addition to the above applications, mannitol also has unique uses in the otolaryngology field. For example, in the treatment of Meniere's disease (inner ear vertigo), plasma osmotic pressure can be rapidly increased, membranous labyrinth edema can be reduced, endolymphatic pressure can be reduced, and vertigo symptoms in patients can be relieved. In addition, it can also be used to treat diseases such as adhesive intestinal obstruction.

Precautions and adverse reactions of mannitol

Although mannitol has a wide range of application values in the medical field, there are also some things to pay attention to in the use process. First of all, it is cold and easy to crystallize, and it is necessary to check whether the liquid has crystallization before use, and put it in hot water or force shock to be used after the crystallization is dissolved. Secondly, the precision filter infusion set should be selected when used to reduce the stimulation and damage to the blood vessels. In addition, storage needs to be sealed and kept away from light.

In the process of using mannitol, there may also be some adverse reactions. For example, long-term heavy use may lead to kidney damage, damage to the cardiovascular system (such as acute left heart failure), acid-base balance, and water and electrolyte disorders. In addition, intravenous infusion may also cause phlebitis and allergic reactions. Therefore, when using mannitol, it is necessary to pay attention to the reaction of patients and deal with adverse reactions in time.

Future Outlook

With further study on the mechanism of mannitol and the continuous expansion of clinical application, its application prospects in the medical field will be broad. In the future, it may play an important role in the treatment of more diseases, such as nervous system diseases and cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, with the progress of medical science and technology and the research and development of new drugs, its application scope may also be further expanded and expanded.

Conclusion

Mannitol, as a magical substance in nature, plays an important role in the medical field. From tissue dehydration to osmotic diuresis, from preoperative intestinal preparation to ENT application, it has won the favor of the majority of medical workers with its unique pharmacological action and wide application value. In the future, we have reason to believe that it will play a more important role in the medical field and make greater contributions to human health.

References

[1].Nissenson, A. R.; Weston, R. E.; Kleeman, C. R., Mannitol. Western Journal of Medicine 1979, 131 (4), 277.

[2].Shawkat, H.; Westwood, M.-M.; Mortimer, A., Mannitol: a review of its clinical uses. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain 2012, 12 (2), 82-85.

[3].Warren, S. E.; Blantz, R. C., Mannitol. Archives of internal medicine 1981, 141 (4), 493-497.

[4].Stoop, J. M.; Williamson, J. D.; Pharr, D. M., Mannitol metabolism in plants: a method for coping with stress. Trends in Plant Science 1996, 1 (5), 139-144.

[5].Davis, M.; Lucatorto, M., Mannitol revisited. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 1994, 26 (3), 170-174.