Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
Overall there are signs of systemic absorption via oral and dermal exposures, no evidence of target organs or of excretion. After oral ingestion and dermal absorption, the test substance will be metabolised to hippuric acid. Despite the low log Pow value, results of the 28-day study in rats and the predicted metabolism do not indicate a potential for the substance to bioaccumulate.
After oral ingestion of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate, there is a rapid absorption (of undissociated benzoic acid) from the gastrointestinal tract in experimental animals or humans. ... 100% absorption can be assumed. In humans, the peak plasma concentration is reached within 1-2 hr.
Hippuric acid is rapidly excreted in urine. In humans, after oral doses of up to 160 mg/kg body weight, 75-100% of the applied dose is excreted as hippuric acid within 6 hr after administration, and the rest within 2-3 days.
Experiments on the distribution and elimination of (14)C-benzoate in the rat have shown no accumulation of sodium benzoate or benzoic acid in the body.
For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for SODIUM BENZOATE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

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Metabolism / Metabolites
After oral and dermal uptake, benzoate is metabolized in the liver by conjugation with glycine, resulting in the formation of hippuric acid. The rate of biotransformation in humans is high: after oral doses of 40, 80 or 160 mg sodium benzoate/kg body weight, the transformation to hippuric acid was independent of the dose - about 17-29 mg/kg body weight per hour, corresponding to about 500 mg/kg body weight per day. Other /studies/ obtained higher values of 0.8-2 g/kg body weight per day.
Another metabolite of benzoate is the benzoyl glucuronide.
The metabolism of the benzoates depletes glycine concentrations and can therefore alter the glycine-dependent metabolism of other compounds. /A study/ demonstrated that ... sodium benzoate successfully competed with aspirin for glycine, resulting in increased concentration and persistence of salicyclic acid in the body.
This study underlines the importance of cinnamon, a widely-used food spice and flavoring material, and its metabolite sodium benzoate (NaB), a widely-used food preservative and a FDA-approved drug against urea cycle disorders in humans, in increasing the levels of neurotrophic factors [e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3)] in the CNS. NaB, but not sodium formate (NaFO), dose-dependently induced the expression of BDNF and NT-3 in primary human neurons and astrocytes. Interestingly, oral administration of ground cinnamon increased the level of NaB in serum and brain and upregulated the levels of these neurotrophic factors in vivo in mouse CNS. Accordingly, oral feeding of NaB, but not NaFO, also increased the level of these neurotrophic factors in vivo in the CNS of mice. NaB induced the activation of protein kinase A (PKA), but not protein kinase C (PKC), and H-89, an inhibitor of PKA, abrogated NaB-induced increase in neurotrophic factors. Furthermore, activation of cAMP response element binding (CREB) protein, but not NF-kappaB, by NaB, abrogation of NaB-induced expression of neurotrophic factors by siRNA knockdown of CREB and the recruitment of CREB and CREB-binding protein to the BDNF promoter by NaB suggest that NaB exerts its neurotrophic effect through the activation of CREB. Accordingly, cinnamon feeding also increased the activity of PKA and the level of phospho-CREB in vivo in the CNS. These results highlight a novel neutrophic property of cinnamon and its metabolite NaB via PKA - CREB pathway, which may be of benefit for various neurodegenerative disorders.

Toxicity Summary
IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Sodium benzoate is a colorless crystalline powder. It is used as food preservative, antiseptic, medicine, in tobacco, in pharmaceutical preparations, as an intermediate for manufacture of dyes, and as a rust and mildew inhibitor. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: In a study with 2045 patients of dermatological clinics, only 5 persons (approximately 0.2%) showed a positive reaction in patch tests, while 34 of 5202 patients (approximately 0.7%) with contact urticaria reacted positively. Cases of urticaria, asthma, rhinitis, or anaphylactic shock have been reported following oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure to sodium benzoate. The symptoms appear shortly after exposure and disappear within a few hours. Chromosome aberration test was carried out on sodium benzoate using human embryonic lung culture cells. Sodium benzoate produced no significant increase in the aberration frequency in the anaphase chromosomes when tested at the dosage levels 0, 2.0 ug/mL, 20 ug/mL and 200 g/mL. In human embryonic lung cells (WI-38) treated with sodium benzoate both chromosome abnormalities and mitotic indices were within normal values. Sodium benzoate was mutagenic and cytotoxic in lymphocytes, where it caused micronucleus formation and chromosome break. ANIMAL STUDIES: An acute dermal irritation/corrosion study gave no indication for skin irritating effect in rabbits. Sodium benzoate was only slightly irritating to the eye. In a 90-day study with rats dosed with 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8% sodium benzoate via diet, the mortality in the highest dose group (approx. 6290 mg/kg body weight per day) was about 50%. Other effects in this group included a reduced weight gain, increased relative weights of liver and kidneys, and pathological changes in these organs. Sodium benzoate was given in drinking water to 50 female and 50 male mice from weeks 5 on for lifespan. The average daily intake of sodium benzoate was 119.2 mg for a female and 124.0 mg for a male (approx. 5.95 - 6.2 g/kg bw/d). There was no effect on the survival of the treated mice when compared with the untreated control. There were no significant differences between the tumor distribution in sodium benzoate-treated and untreated control mice. In a developmental study rats were injected intraperitoneally with 100, 315, or 1000 mg/kg sodium benzoate on gestation days 9 to 11 or 12 to 14. Reduced fetal body weight, increased in utero deaths (by 12%), and gross anomalies were noted at the highest dose. No evidence of teratogenicity was noted in rats administered 510 mg/kg of sodium benzoate by gavage on gestation days 9 to 11. Sodium benzoate (up to 3.0 mg/plate) was tested in the Salmonella/microsome test using S. typhimurium TA 92, TA 94, TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535 and TA 1537. No significant increases in the numbers of revertant colonies were detected in any S. typhimurium strains at the maximum dose. Sodium benzoate tested negative in a cytogenetic assay (bone marrow) in rats after single or multiple oral application of doses up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. In a study with mice, there was also no indication of mutagenic activity in a host-mediated assay.

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Interactions
The GRAS report cited studies in which ingestion of sodium benzoate reduced the glycine-dependent formation of creatine, glutamine, urea, and uric acid and increased the effects of procaine, lidocaine, cocaine, tetracaine, and dibucaine. Under conditions of severely restricted fluid and salt intake, benzoates increased and prolonged the concentration of serum penicillin.
The interaction between sodium benzoate (SB) and calf thymus DNA in simulated physiological buffer (pH 7.4) using acridine orange (AO) dye as a fluorescence probe, was investigated by UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy along with DNA melting studies and viscosity measurements. An expanded UV-Vis spectral data matrix was resolved by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) approach. The equilibrium concentration profiles and the pure spectra for SB, DNA and DNA-SB complex from the high overlapping composite response were simultaneously obtained. The results indicated that SB could bind to DNA, and hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds played a vital role in the binding process. Moreover, SB was able to quench the fluorescence of DNA-AO complex through a static procedure. The quenching observed was indicative of an intercalative mode of interaction between SB and DNA, which was supported by melting studies, viscosity measurements and CD analysis.

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Non-Human Toxicity Values
LC50 Rat inhalation >12,200 mg/cu m air/4 hr
LD50 Rat oral 3450 mg/kg bw
LD50 Rabbit oral 2000 mg/kg
LD50 Mouse intramuscular 2306 mg/kg
For more Non-Human Toxicity Values (Complete) data for SODIUM BENZOATE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

[1]. Pharmaceutical excipients - quality, regulatory and biopharmaceutical considerations. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2016 May 25;87:88-99.

Therapeutic Uses
Antifungal Agents; Food Preservatives
Sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate is used as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia and associated encephalopathy in patients with disorders (i.e., deficiencies in enzymes) of the urea cycle. Sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate is designated an orphan drug by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this use.
/EXPL THER/ In addition to dopaminergic hyperactivity, hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Enhancing NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission is considered a novel treatment approach. To date, several trials on adjuvant NMDA-enhancing agents have revealed beneficial, but limited, efficacy for positive and negative symptoms and cognition. Another method to enhance NMDA function is to raise the levels of d-amino acids by blocking their metabolism. Sodium benzoate is a d-amino acid oxidase inhibitor. /The objective of this study was/ to examine the clinical and cognitive efficacy and safety of add-on treatment of sodium benzoate for schizophrenia. /The study consisted of/ a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2 major medical centers in Taiwan composed of 52 patients with chronic schizophrenia who had been stabilized with antipsychotic medications for 3 months or longer. /Interventions included/ six weeks of add-on treatment of 1 g/d of sodium benzoate or placebo. The primary outcome measure was the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Clinical efficacy and adverse effects were assessed biweekly. Cognitive functions were measured before and after the add-on treatment. Benzoate produced a 21% improvement in PANSS total score and large effect sizes (range, 1.16-1.69) in the PANSS total and subscales, Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms-20 items, Global Assessment of Function, Quality of Life Scale and Clinical Global Impression and improvement in the neurocognition subtests as recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health's Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia initiative, including the domains of processing speed and visual learning. Benzoate was well tolerated without significant adverse effects. Benzoate adjunctive therapy significantly improved a variety of symptom domains and neurocognition in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The preliminary results show promise for d-amino acid oxidase inhibition as a novel approach for new drug development for schizophrenia.
/EXPL THER/ N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated neurotransmission is vital for learning and memory. Hypofunction of NMDAR has been reported to play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer disease (AD), particularly in the early phase. Enhancing NMDAR activation might be a novel treatment approach. One of the methods to enhance NMDAR activity is to raise the levels of NMDA coagonists by blocking their metabolism. This study examined the efficacy and safety of sodium benzoate, a D-amino acid oxidase inhibitor, for the treatment of amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild AD. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in four major medical centers in Taiwan. Sixty patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild AD were treated with 250-750 mg/day of sodium benzoate or placebo for 24 weeks. Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (the primary outcome) and global function (assessed by Clinician Interview Based Impression of Change plus Caregiver Input) were measured every 8 weeks. Additional cognition composite was measured at baseline and endpoint. Sodium benzoate produced a better improvement than placebo in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (p = .0021, .0116, and .0031 at week 16, week 24, and endpoint, respectively), additional cognition composite (p = .007 at endpoint) and Clinician Interview Based Impression of Change plus Caregiver Input (p = .015, .016, and .012 at week 16, week 24, and endpoint, respectively). Sodium benzoate was well-tolerated without evident side-effects. Sodium benzoate substantially improved cognitive and overall functions in patients with early-phase AD. The preliminary results show promise for D-amino acid oxidase inhibition as a novel approach for early dementing processes.
/EXPL THER/ A recent clinical study demonstrated that sodium benzoate (SB), a prototype competitive d-amino acid oxidase inhibitor, was effective in the treatment of several symptoms, such as positive and negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment in medicated patients with schizophrenia. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of SB on behavioral abnormalities such as pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) deficits and hyperlocomotion in mice after a single administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP). The effects of SB on behavioral abnormalities (PPI deficits and hyperlocomotion) in mice after PCP administration were examined. Furthermore, effects of SB on tissue levels of amino acids were also examined. A single oral dose of SB (100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg) attenuated PPI deficits in mice after administration of PCP (3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, L-701,324 (10 mg/kg), an antagonist at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor, did not affect the effect of SB (1000 mg/kg) on PCP-induced PPI deficits. Furthermore, a single oral dose of SB (1000 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the hyperlocomotion in mice after administration of PCP (3.0 mg/kg, s.c.). However, a single oral dose of SB (1000 mg/kg) caused no changes to D-serine levels in plasma or in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of these animals. This study suggests that SB induced antipsychotic effects in the PCP model of schizophrenia, although it did not increase D-serine levels in the brain.

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Drug Warnings
At /the therapeutic/ dose level, clinical signs of toxicity are rare and in most cases limited to anorexia and vomiting, especially after intravenous bolus infusions.

C7H5NAO2

144.10

144.018

532-32-1

Benzoate-d5 sodium;62790-26-5

517055

White to off-white solid powder

1,44 g/cm3

249.3ºC at 760 mmHg

>300 °C(lit.)

111.4ºC

0.05

0

2

1

10

108

0

WXMKPNITSTVMEF-UHFFFAOYSA-M

InChI=1S/C7H6O2.Na/c8-7(9)6-4-2-1-3-5-6;/h1-5H,(H,8,9);/q;+1/p-1

sodium;benzoate

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO: 5 mg/mL (34.70 mM)

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)