Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a chemical compound belonging to n-acyl taurates, the sodium salt of the coconut fatty acid amide of N-methyltaurine.

Breakdown of the name and function of the components

• Sodium - Indicates the presence of a sodium ion.
• Methyl - Indicates the presence of a methyl group.
• Cocoyl - Derived from coconut oil and indicates the presence of a lipid chain derived from this oil.
• Taurate - Indicates the presence of a taurate group, derived from taurinic acid.

Description and function of the raw materials used in production

• Coconut oil - Provides the fatty acids which form the base of cocoyl.
• Methylamine - Provides the methyl group.
• Taurinic acid - A bile acid used for producing the taurate.

Summary of its industrial synthesis process step by step

• Esterification - The fatty acids derived from coconut oil react with methylamine, forming a methyl cocoyl derivative.
• Reaction with taurinic acid - The methyl cocoyl derivative is then made to react with taurinic acid to form methyl cocoyl taurate.
• Neutralization - The mixture is neutralized with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form the sodium salt and obtain sodium methyl cocoyl taurate.
• Purification - The product is purified through various methods such as filtration and distillation.
• Drying - Residual moisture is removed through drying processes.

It typically appears as a white to off-white powder or liquid in its pure form. It is water-soluble and is often used in aqueous solutions

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities. 

Medicine

Solubilizer agent in medicine. This study examines the effects of N-acyl taurates  on the intestinal absorption of curcumin, a water-insoluble and poorly absorbed compound, in rats. Sodium methyl lauroyl taurate and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate were the most effective in increasing the solubility and intestinal absorption of curcumin (1).

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate or Tauranol has found application in toothpastes as an antibacterial anti-plaque agent (2).

Studies on Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

CAS  12765-39-8    61791-42-2 

UNII    JVL98CG53G

EC number    263-174-9 

Synonyms:

• Tauranol
• Igepon TC 42
• Sodium N-cocoyl-N-methyl taurate
• Sodium N-methyl-N-cocoyl taurate
• Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
• Amides, coconut oil, with N-methyltaurine, sodium salts

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Li X, Kawamura A, Sato Y, Morishita M, Kusamori K, Katsumi H, Sakane T, Yamamoto A. Improvement of the Solubility and Intestinal Absorption of Curcumin by N-Acyl Taurates and Elucidation of the Absorption-Enhancing Mechanisms. Biol Pharm Bull. 2017;40(12):2175-2182. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b17-00581. 

Abstract. In this study, the effects of N-acyl taurates (NATs) on the intestinal absorption of curcumin (CUR), a water-insoluble and poorly absorbed compound, were examined in rats. Sodium methyl lauroyl taurate (LMT) and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (CMT) were the most effective in increasing the solubility and intestinal absorption of CUR. The intestinal membrane toxicity of the NATs was also evaluated by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a toxicity marker. NATs did not increase the activity of LDH, suggesting that they may be safely administered orally. We further elucidated the absorption-enhancing mechanisms of NATs by using Caco-2 cells. In cellular transport studies, LMT and CMT reduced the transepithelial electrical resistance value of Caco-2 cells and increased the transport of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and CUR. Hence, the intestinal absorption enhancement by LMT and CMT was attributed to the synergistic effect of higher solubility and greater permeability of the cell layer towards CUR in the presence of the surfactants. In summary, co-administration of CUR with either LMT or CMT is a simple and effective method to enhance oral delivery of CUR.

(2) Nabi N, Kashuba B, Lucchesi S, Afflitto J, Furuichi Y, Gaffar A. In vitro and in vivo studies on salifluor/PVM/MA copolymer/NaF combination as an antiplaque agent. J Clin Periodontol. 1996 Dec;23(12):1084-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1996.tb01808.x. 

Abstrasct. Salifluor (5-n-octanoyl-3'-trifluoromethyl-salicylanilide), a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, was investigated for its ability to inhibit dental plaque formation. A combination of salifluor with PVM/MA copolymer and NaF was optimized for its antiplaque effect in mouthrinse and dentifrice formulations based on a series of both laboratory and clinical studies. It was found that salifluor, a highly hydrophobic compound, could not be adequately solubilized with the conventional amount of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the most commonly used anionic surfactant in oral hygiene products. However, it was possible to prepare stable mouthrinse formulations using a mixed surfactant system containing both anionic and nonionic surfactants. The most suitable mixture was found to be a combination of SLS, Pluronic and Tauranol in a proportion of 1:1:1. This combination provided adequate stability and high antimicrobial activity as determined by in vitro microbiological tests. Addition of a PVM/MA copolymer to the formulation improved the adsorption and retention of salifluor on stimulated tooth surfaces in vitro (saliva coated hydroxyapatite disks) by almost two-fold and also increased the antiplaque efficacy in both laboratory and human clinical studies. It was also found that a non fluoride dentifrice containing a combination of salifluor and PVM/MA copolymer with a dicalcium phosphate dihydrate abrasive, was highly effective in reducing smooth surface and fissure caries in rats. The results of the present studies demonstrated that salifluor is an effective antiplaque agent in mouthrinse and dentifrice when carefully formulated to maximize its delivery and bioavailability on oral surfaces. They also illustrated the difficulties encountered in exploiting the antimicrobial efficacy of highly hydrophobic, nonionic antimicrobial agents such as salifluor in commonly used oral hygiene vehicles.