Sodium 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenolate

Specific investigations: other studies

Additional information

There are no data available on estrogenic activity of sodium methylparaben. However, there are some data on methylparaben which is considered suitable for read-across using the analogue approach. Sodium methylparaben (sodium 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenolate) is the sodium salt of methylparaben (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate). The substance is highly water soluble (418 g/L), dissociates in aqueous solutions and is hydrolysed to sodium hydroxide and the source substance methylparaben. Based on the assumption that upon oral and dermal administration, sodium methylparaben dissociates and is hydrolysed to methylparaben and sodium hydroxide, it was predicted that after exposure the primary effect is local irritation/corrosion at the site of contact due to sodium hydroxide. 

 

 Target and source substance are of low acute toxicity. No systemic or local effects were found up to single doses of 5000 mg/kg bw for sodium methylparaben and 2100 mg/kg bw for methylparaben. A dermal absorption of 80% was calculated for sodium methylparaben using QSAR and the available physico-chemical properties. For methylparaben, the dermal absorption was estimated in an in vitro test to be 84.7% in human skin (Fasano, 2004). 

 

 Therefore, it can reasonably be deduced that no higher amounts than tested in the acute oral toxicity study will be systemically available via the intact skin barrier. Inhalation is of no concern for the target as well as the source substance because of the low vapour pressure. 

 

 The results of several repeated dose toxicity studies indicate a low toxicological concern for methylparaben. Methylparaben caused no systemic toxicity and no effects on fertility or developmental toxicity. Moreover, toxicokinetic data have shown that methylparaben is completely absorbed after oral and dermal administration, hydrolysed, conjugated and rapidly excreted in urine. Thus, there is no evidence of accumulation. 

 

 As bioavailability and metabolism and therefore mammalian toxicity of sodium methylparaben were considered to be comparable to that of methylparaben, the assessment of systemic toxicity based on analogue approach can be considered as justified. 

     

 Methylparaben was tested for its estrogenic activity using several in vitro assays: 

  

 - Methylparaben was assessed for its estrogenic activity by using the yeast two-hybrid assay incorporating either the human or medaka estrogen receptorαand by using hERαcompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ER-ELISA). Methylparaben did not show any estrogenic properties in the yeast two-hybrid assay (up to 10,000 nM) and ER-ELISA (up to 38,000 nM). 

 

 - The estrogenic activity of Methylparaben towards etstrogen receptorsαand ß was measured by using three reporter cell lines HELN, HELN ERαand HELN ERß. Methylparaben did not show any estrogenic activity when applied to HELN, HELN ERαand HELN ERß cells up to 10 µM. 

  

 - A validated estrogen receptor competitive-binding assay to determine the estrogen receptor (ER) affinity for Methylparaben was utilized. Uteri from ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were the ER source for the competitive binding assay. Methylparaben was assayed using a wide range of concentrations (10 nM to 0.1 mM) to determine the relative binding affinity value (RBA). Methylparaben exhibited a weak binding to the ER (Relative Binding Affinity: 0.0004% of 17ß-Estradiol Binding Affinity). The calculated IC50 (50% inhibition of the 17ß-Estradiol binding) was 0.25 mM compared to an IC50 of 0.9 nM for 17ß-Estradiol. 

 

 - The effect (competitive inhibition of [3H]Estradiol binding, expression of oestrogen-regulated genes) of Methylparaben on MCF7 human breast cancer cells was investigated. The binding of Methylparaben to the ER was rather weak, requiring a minimum concentration of 500,000-fold molar excess over 17ß-Estradiol. Where 17ß-Estradiol acts maximally between 10-10and 10-8M in MCF7 cells Methylparaben acts in 10-4M range. Methylparaben gave a very weak effect on cell proliferation at 10-4M. No significant antagonist properties of Methylparaben were found on cell proliferation stimulated by 10-10M 17ß-Estradiol for concentrations of Methylparaben in up to 105molar excess. 

  

  

 Taking into account all above mentioned results the estrogenic properties of Methylparaben are negligible. The binding to the estrogenic receptor is very weak and was shown at 106 molar excess compared to ß-Estradiol. This is an artificial concentration and very unlikely to occur within the organism since Methylparaben is demonstrated to be metabolized and excreted rapidly (please refer to the toxicokinetic results). Methylparaben was not found to be a 17ß-Estradiol antagonist. Therefore, no concern is arising from Methylparaben with reference to the estrogenic activity.