Trisodium phosphate is commonly found in cosmetic products, as a cleaning agent, lubricant, food additive, stain remover, but in medicine it has a strong antibacterial component that effectively and jointly contrasts with citric acid, the fungal activity of Pityrosporum (1).
It also has an anti-inflammatory and anti-itch function and is considered safe for the skin (2).
Recent studies have evaluated it as an inhibitor, together with ethanol, of the Norovirus virus, very contagious responsible for gastric disorders (3).
It is an effective antimicrobial against foodborne pathogens (4).
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(1) Jung, C. H., Cho, H. H., Choi, G. J., Kang, S. Y., & Yang, N. W. (2008). The anti-sticking effect of mixture of trisodium phosphate and citric acid on oral streptococcus species. Korean Journal of Microbiology, 44(4), 289-292.
Abstract. The mixture of sodium triphosphate (3H12O, SIGMA, USA) and citric acid (2H1O, SIGMA, USA) showed a strong anti-adhesion effect against Streptococcus mutans (KCTC 2), Streptococcus mitis (KCTC 7) and Streptococcus salivarius (KCTC 3065) attached to glass beads with a diameter of 3556 mm. The chain bacteria were incubated for 3960 hours in a cerebral heart infusion broth medium containing three glass beads, then collected with tweezers with three spikes and lightly washed in normal saline solution. Each glass bead was then transferred to a test tube containing four reagents. To induce an effect similar to that of human brushing, 3 mg of paper (size 18-3 mm) was added to each tube, which does not loosen easily when wet. The test pieces were agitated at level 4 with a vortex mixer for 2 minutes. The exception was Streptococcus agalactiae, a nasal stromobacteria, which was shaken for 3 minutes. A small amount of the sample solution was taken from each tube and cultured using the agar-step dilution method. The experiment was repeated three times for each strain species and the rate of detachment by the reagent was compared with the amount of bacteria released to the control group using normal saline solution. The detachment effect of the sodium-normal citrate-triphosphate (CTS, pH 40,10) salt mixture on Streptococcus mutans was on average 10,5 times higher than that of normal saline controls. The detachment effect of the third sodium-normal phosphate salt mixture (TS, pH 3.3) was 6.0 times that of the normal saline control group, and the normal citric acid-normal salt mixture (CS, pH 12.5) was 3.8 times. For Streptococcus salivarius, it was 4.7 times, 5.4 times and 6.6 times, respectively in the order of reagents, and for Streptococcus mitis, it was 0.7 times, 2.2 times and 6.2 times, respectively. Streptococcus agalactiae, a bacterium in the nasal chain, was 8.2, 4.3 and 4.0, respectively, and the detachment effect was significantly reduced compared to the normal saline control group. These results indirectly suggest that Streptococcus mutans oral and Streptococcus salivarius, the main causative agents of caries and subacute endocarditis, can be easily removed from the oral ecosystem with a salt solution of citrate-citrate triphosphatesodium. Therefore, it can be inferred that by applying the results of this experiment, it is possible to develop a new concept of toothpaste that can be used to prevent subacute endocarditis and caries, which have a high incidence after tooth extraction.
(2) Lee HJ, Yang NW, Choi JY, Lee JB, Lee SC. CSP0510 Lotion as a Novel Moisturizer Containing Citric Acid and Trisodium Phosphate Relieves Objective and Subjective Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis. Ann Dermatol. 2016 Jun;28(3):344-51. doi: 10.5021/ad.2016.28.3.344.
Abstract. Background: Moisturizers with anti-inflammatory or anti-itch activity should be developed for the safe and effective management of atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed moisturizer, CSP0510 lotion (Twolines Inc., Korea), containing citric acid (CA) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) as active ingredients, in mild to moderate AD....Conclusion: In conclusion, CSP0510 lotion has anti-itch and anti-inflammatory activity in the skin, which improves both objective and subjective symptoms of AD.
(3) Kim EJ, Lee YD, Kim KY, Park JH. A Synergy Effect of Trisodium Phosphate and Ethanol on Inactivation of Murine Norovirus 1 on Lettuce and Bell Pepper. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Dec 28;25(12):2106-9. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1503.03032.
Abstract. The synergy effect of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and ethanol against murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), as a surrogate for human noroviruses, on fresh produces was evaluated. More than 2% (w/v) of TSP effectively inactivated MNV-1. The single treatment of 1% TSP or 30% ethanol for 30 min was not effective on MNV-1; however, cotreatment showed inactivation of MNV-1 on stainless steel and the produces of lettuce and bell pepper under 15 min. The results suggest that cotreatment of TSP and ethanol at a low concentration and a short time of exposure might be useful for the reduction of norovirus in some produce.
(4) Sarjit A, Dykes GA. Trisodium phosphate and sodium hypochlorite are more effective as antimicrobials against Campylobacter and Salmonella on duck as compared to chicken meat. Int J Food Microbiol. 2015 Jun 16;203:63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2015.02.026.
Abstract. ... Results indicate that chicken meat has the ability to effectively protect Campylobacter and Salmonella against the impact of trisodium phosphate and sodium hypochlorite while duck meat does not. This study suggests that trisodium phosphate has a strong potential for application in a commercial poultry processing to reduce Campylobacter and Salmonella specifically on duck meat. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
Trisodium Phosphate (cosmetics) 
