Antiandrogenic properties of parabens and other phenolic containing small molecules in personal care products

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2007.03.015· OSTI ID:20976956

Jiangang, Chen ^[1]; Ahn, Ki Chang ^[2]; Gee, Nancy A ^[1]; Gee, Shirley J ^[2]; Hammock, Bruce D ^[2]; Lasley, Bill L ^[3]

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1. Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States)
2. Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States)
3. Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States) and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States)

To identify the androgenic potency of commonly used antimicrobials, an in vitro androgen receptor-mediated transcriptional activity assay was employed to evaluate the androgenic/antiandrogenic activity of parabens and selected other antimicrobials containing a phenolic moiety. This cell-based assay utilizes a stably transfected cell line that lacks critical steroid metabolizing enzymes and is formatted in a 96-well format. At a concentration of 10 {mu}M, methyl-, propyl- and butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (parabens) inhibited testosterone (T)-induced transcriptional activity by 40%, 33% and 19%, respectively (P < 0.05), while 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, the major metabolite of parabens, had no effect on T-induced transcriptional activity. Triclosan inhibited transcriptional activity induced by T by more than 92% at a concentration of 10 {mu}M, and 38.8% at a concentration of 1.0 {mu}M (P < 0.05). Thirty-four percent of T-induced transcriptional activity was inhibited by thymol at 10 {mu}M (P < 0.05). Cell proliferation and/or cytotoxicity were not observed in any of the treatments. None of the compounds appeared to be androgenic when tested individually without T. The data presented in this report demonstrate that some widely used antimicrobial compounds have antiandrogenic properties and warrant further investigation to fully understand their potential impact on human reproductive health.

• OSTI ID: 20976956
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 221; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOASSAY
BROMIDES
CATTLE
CELL PROLIFERATION
DEXTRAN
IN VITRO
KIDNEYS
RECEPTORS
TESTOSTERONE
THYMOL
TOXICITY