Application research of Policresulen

Introduction

Policresulen (2-hydroxy-3,5-bis[(4-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-sulfophenyl)methyl]-4-methyl-benzenesulfonic acid;Figure 1), a clinical medication used for debridement and antimicrobial applications in gynecology, was finally discovered to be a novel inhibitor of this protease. In other words, Policresulen, an acid compound derived from formaldehyde and used in veterinary medicine for wound healing, was effective in inhibiting horn bud growth during the rearing phase and provided moderate pain relief. Policresulen has recently attracted interest as a potential alternative disbudding method for calves, particularly within the Alta Cria program—one of the largest calf and heifer data collection programs in the world, with over 207,000 animals participating. Policresulen, a compound of sulfonic acid and formaldehyde, is frequently used inhuman medicine to heal wounds, remove warts and treat diseases of the urogenital tract. In veterinary medicine, it has been used to treat disorders of the reproductive tract in horses  and to promote wound and hoof healing in dairy cows. Due to its high acidity, policresulen acts by protein coagulation, promoting selective necrosis of devitalized tissue and stimulating the tissue regeneration process. This protein coagulation ability can facilitate the degradation of horn buds in calves, which consist of immature keratinized epithelium characterized by proteins that are still disorganized and not fully structured.[1-2]

Evaluating Policresulen for Disbudding Dairy Calves

Disbudding is a common practice on dairy farms, with the hot iron method (HID) widely used, though it causes considerable pain if no analgesia is provided. This study included two experiments. In Experiment 1, an alternative method using policresulen (POD) was evaluated in 24 Holstein calves randomly assigned to either policresulen or HID at 21 ± 2 days of age. Calves in the policresulen group received 0.2 mL of 36% policresulen per horn bud, while those in the HID group were fully cauterized. The cornual nerve was blocked with 5 mL of 2% lidocaine in both treatments, and all calves received meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg body weight) for three days post-procedure. Calves treated with policresulen exhibited fewer pain-related behaviors, such as scratching the horn buds, rubbing against objects, and head shaking, and showed faster horn bud regression. However, 12-month observations revealed that 9 of 12 POD-treated calves showed horn regrowth, indicating limited long-term effectiveness. Experiment 2 assessed consumer perceptions through a questionnaire and video with 236 participants. Participants with farming experience were more familiar with disbudding and preferred HID. In contrast, individuals with less agricultural contact demonstrated a greater willingness to pay for products from farms implementing animal welfare practices, with 76% favoring policresulen. Overall, participants experienced in agribusiness prioritized technical knowledge and practicality, while others valued animal welfare and were willing to pay higher prices for welfare-friendly practices.[2]

The simultaneous determination of policresulen and cinchocaine hydrochloride in ointment and suppositories

For the treatment of internal and external hemorrhoids, policresulen (POL) and cinchocaine hydrochloride (CIN) are used in combination. Using a new, simple, fast, and economical first-derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopic process, both drugs were simultaneously determined and validated. At Δλ60 nm and with a scanning rate of 600 nm/min, methanol was used as the solvent for both products. In the concentration ranges of 5.0-21.0 μg/mL and 0.5-6.0 μg/mL for policresulenL and CIN, the amplitude-concentration plots were rectilinear. The detection limits were found to be 0.770 μg/mL and 0.118 μg/mL and the quantitation limits for policresulen and CIN were 2.541 μg/mL and 0.391μg/mL. To evaluate all compounds in synthetic mixtures and medicinal dosage types, the proposed method has been successfully applied. These findings were in line with the results obtained using high-performance thin layer chromatography, the comparison process.[3]

Policresulen is effective for the topical treatment of vaginal varices in a pregnant mare

Vaginal varicosities in mares are rarely reported, although considered relatively common. Clinical recognition can be challenging, especially during early pregnancy, due to the intermittent nature of the bleeding. This report aims to describe the diagnostic approach, clinical evolution, and treatment of a case of vaginal varicosity in a pregnant mare, emphasizing a practical and minimally invasive method. A 9-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse mare with intermittent vaginal hemorrhage underwent clinical evaluation, showing no abnormalities. Vaginoscopy with a rigid endoscope revealed varicose veins in the vestibule-vaginal region. Chemical cauterization was performed using a 36 % Policresulen solution. The treatment was well tolerated, inexpensive, and effective in controlling bleeding. The clinical sign resolved within a few days, with no recurrence observed. Rigid endoscopy proved to be a practical diagnostic tool for field use. Policresulen offered an efficient, low-cost, and minimally invasive therapeutic option for managing vaginal varicosities in mares.[4]

Postoperative topical analgesia of hemorrhoidectomy with policresulen and cinchocaine

To evaluate the effects of topical policresulen and cinchocaine in the postoperative pain behavior of open hemorrhoidectomy. Froehner et al. conducted a prospective, double-blinded, controlled study. The control group received the usual guidelines with oral medications. The topical treatment group received, in addition, the application of the ointment and was comprised of two subgroups (policresulen + cinchocaine, and placebo). Pain intensity was recorded with the visual analogue scale. 43 patients were operated on: control group - n = 13, one excluded; placebo - n = 15; and policresulen + cinchocaine - n = 15. The mean age was 45.98 years and 37.2% were men. The average pain intensity was 4.09 (immediate postoperative), 3.22 (hospital discharge), 5.73 (day 1) , 5.77 (day 2), 5.74 (day 3), 5.65 (day 7), 5.11 (day 10), 2.75 (day 15) and 7.70 (first bowel movement), with no difference between groups in all periods.This study showed no reduction in pain after hemorrhoidectomy with the use of topical policresulen and cinchocaine.[5]

References

[1]Wu DW, Mao F, Ye Y, et al. Policresulen, a novel NS2B/NS3 protease inhibitor, effectively inhibits the replication of DENV2 virus in BHK-21 cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2015;36(9):1126-1136. doi:10.1038/aps.2015.56

[2]Silva TBPE, Silva LHR, Ferreira MM, et al. Evaluating Policresulen for Disbudding Dairy Calves: A Two-Part Study on Calf Welfare and Consumer Perceptions. Animals (Basel). 2025;15(20):2977. Published 2025 Oct 14. doi:10.3390/ani15202977

[3]Salem H, Abdelaziz A, Atef A, Abdelrady R, Ibrahim M, Elkady A. A synchronous fluorescence spectrofluorometric method for the simultaneous determination of policresulen and cinchocaine hydrochloride in ointment and suppositories. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2021;255:119648. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2021.119648

[4]Miguel EL, Carneiro MFL, Griffo ALC, et al. Policresulen is effective for the topical treatment of vaginal varices in a pregnant mare: Case report. J Equine Vet Sci. 2025;155:105711. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105711

[5]Froehner Junior I, Kotze PG, Rocha JG, et al. Postoperative topical analgesia of hemorrhoidectomy with policresulen and cinchocaine: a prospective and controlled study. Rev Col Bras Cir. 2014;41(2):92-98. doi:10.1590/s0100-69912014000200004 

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