Chemicals and Drugs

Dimethyl Sulfoxide

A highly polar organic liquid, that is used widely as a chemical solvent. Because of its ability to penetrate biological membranes, it is used as a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals. It is also used to protect tissue during CRYOPRESERVATION. Dimethyl sulfoxide shows a range of pharmacological activity including analgesia and anti-inflammation.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A highly polar organic liquid, that is used widely as a chemical solvent. Because of its ability to penetrate biological membranes, it is used as a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals. It is also used to protect tissue during CRYOPRESERVATION. Dimethyl sulfoxide shows a range of pharmacological activity including analgesia and anti-inflammation.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C2H6OS
Molecular Weight
78.14 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
67-68-5
IUPAC Name
methylsulfinylmethane
InChIKey
IAZDPXIOMUYVGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
CS(=O)C
MeSH Unique ID
D004121
Source
PubChem CID 679

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

16 entry terms
  • DMSO
  • Dimethyl Sulphoxide
  • Dimethylsulfoxide
  • Dimethylsulphinyl
  • Dimethylsulphoxide
  • Sulfinylbis(methane)
  • Sulfoxide, Dimethyl
  • Sulphoxide, Dimethyl
  • Dimexide
  • Rheumabene
  • Rimso
  • Rimso 100
  • Rimso-50
  • Sclerosol
  • Rimso 50
  • Rimso50

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

65(64)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D02w.886w.640w.150w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 60

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004121. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004121
  2. Dimethyl Sulfoxide. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_sulfoxide
  3. Dimethyl Sulfoxide. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q407927
  4. Dimethyl Sulfoxide. In: PubChem Compound. CID 679. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/679