A Note on the Toxicity and Solvent Properties of Dimethyl Sulphoxide

Abstract

Abstract Dimethyl sulphoxide has good solvent properties for a wide range of chemicals, and a low toxicity to mammals. The acute oral LD50 for rats is about 20ml./kg. and for chickens about 12·5 ml./kg. Rats tolerate up to 10 daily doses of 10 ml./kg. weight. Dimethyl sulphoxide is therefore a useful solvent for chemical compounds under toxicological evaluation.