SODIUM BENZOATE-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

Abstract

Sodium benzoate (SB) is widely used in food chemistry, cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industry. Previous studies suggest possible toxic effects of SB when used as a food preservative. However, these studies were confined to microbiological systems. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of SB in rat-cultured cortical neurons and in human clonal epithelial cells (HeLa cells) using cell death assays and the fluorescent measurements of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta psi(m)). We found that SB induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Even 0.1% (w/v) SB, a concentration typically added to soft drinks, produced a significant decrease in cell viability in rat cortical and HeLa cells. We also found that SB caused [Ca2+](i) and Delta psi(m) increases in a dose-dependent manner. Based on our results, more caution and further cellular studies are required with respect to the use of SB as a food preservative.