Sodium propionate can be used in food to fight microbes in food, preserve food and flavor food. It usually exists in the form of colorless transparent crystal or granular crystalline powder. It's the sodium of propionic acid. The FDA considers it a safe food ingredient, and Europe considers it a safe food additive. Canada approves sodium propionate as the active ingredient in the Amino-Cerv (used to treat inflammation or injury of the cervix). Sodium propionate is obtained by chemical reaction between sodium hydroxide and propionic acid.
Currently, organizations such as FDA and EMA approve propionic acid and various direct sodium or calcium salt formulations for use as antibacterial food additives in animal feed and human consumption foods.
Similarly, propionic acid, or any of its direct sodium or calcium salts, may be added to the drug even if it is not used as its main function. There are other active ingredients in the cream such as urea, benzalkonium chloride inositol methionine and cysteine amino acids. They promote absorption of the cream, clean the wound, and speed up wound healing.
However, many propionic acid derivatives can exist as a single drug, each with its unique therapeutic effect.
