Merck, R7632-1G, Retinol

General description
Retinol or vitamin A alcohol is the main circulating form of vitamin A. It is not biologically active. Retinol or all-trans-retinol is a 20-carbon molecule with cyclohexenyl ring, a side chain with four double bonds (in trans configuration), and an alcohol end group.
Application
Retinol has been used:
for the synthesis of all-trans-retinoic acid in HepG2 cells
to study the effect of retinol on the growth of murine normal colonic cells cultured as organoids
as a standard for determination of vitamin A in cells
as a component of chemically defined medium for testis organ culture and spermatogenesis in vitro.

Biochem/physiol Actions
Retinol and its derivatives exhibit anti-aging properties. In addition, it also acts as an anti-wrinkle agent. However, due to its photoinstability and skin irritation potency, it is not widely used in cosmetic formulations. Retinol is used in the treatment of dermatoses including photoaging. Its deficiency is associated with the development of xerosis and follicular hyperkeratosis.
Retinol works as a precursor of active retinoids. It is converted to retinaldehyde and subsequently to retinoic acid. All-trans and 9-cis-retinoic acid are the ligands for nuclear receptors, retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). These receptors are transcriptional regulators of various genes.
Packaging
Bottomless glass bottle. Contents are inside inserted fused cone.
Light protecting glass vial.