title: Cytogenetic study in cultured human lymphocytes treated with three commonly used preservatives.
abstract: Potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and potassium nitrate have been tested for their genotoxic, cytostatic and cytotoxic potential in human peripheral blood cells in vitro. Potassium nitrate has shown no activity in the test system. When potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate were used at concentrations of 2.0, 0.2 and 0.02 mM no cytostatic activity was detected. However, concentrations of 4 and 8 mM have shown a weak cytostaticity. Additionally, a genotoxic activity using the SCE methodology has been observed at 8 mM of sodium benzoate and at 4 and 8 mM of potassium sorbate. No cytotoxic activity has been induced by the three preservatives. Data demonstrate that the preservatives at low concentrations can be considered as non genotoxic under conditions tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mpountoukas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vantarakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sivridis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lialiaris
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009566:Nitrates / Q000633:toxicity*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D020160:Sodium Benzoate / Q000633:toxicity*; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005520:Food Preservatives; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D020160:Sodium Benzoate; C023844:potassium nitrate; D013011:Sorbic Acid