PABA

English

The structure of a PABA molecule

Noun

PABA (uncountable)

1. (organic chemistry) Para-aminobenzoic acid, a member of the B-complex family of vitamins that can be synthesized by the human body from folic acid. It is used primarily as an active ingredient in sunscreen, but also is necessary for some intestinal bacteria.
   • 1968, Donald Greiff, Henry Pinkerton, VIncente Moragues, “Effect of Enzyme Inhibitors and Activators on the Multiplication of Typus Rickettsiae: I. Penicillin, Para-aminobenzoic Acid, Sodium Fluoride, and Vitamins of the B Group.”, in Nicholas Hahon, editor, Selected Papers on the Pathogenic Rickettsiae, page 227:

     The inhibitory action of PABA on the growth of rickettsiae was first demonstrated experimentally against murine typhus in 1942 by Snyder, Maier, and Anderson.

   • 1982, Stuart Maddin, Alastair Carruthers, Terence H. Brown, Current Dermatologic Therapy, page 610:

     Furthermore, these newer compounds are much less likely to permanently stain clothing; the older PABA formulations were famous for the yellow stain they left behind.

   • 1996, Nicholas J. Lowe, Sunscreens: Development: Evaluation, and Regulatory Aspects:

     In 1976, Willis (63) suggested that the sensitization potential of PABA was minimal.

Proper noun

PABA

1. Initialism of Pan Asian Boxing Association.
2. Initialism of Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.

Anagrams

• AABP, ABAP