Investigation of genotoxic effects of paraben in cultured human lymphocytes

Paraben is a phenolic derivative of benzoic acid extensively used as preservatives in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to its antimicrobial characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro genotoxic effects of paraben in human lymphocyte cultures. Cells were analyzed by cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN), chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and comet tests. For CBMN, CA, and SCE assays, the human lymphocytes were isolated from healthy donors and incubated with 500, 250, 100, and 50 mu g/mL of paraben for 24 and 48 h, and for comet assay, cells were exposed to 1000, 750, 500, and 250 mu g/mL of paraben for an hour. Results showed that numbers of MN and SCEs were not significant in the cells exposed to paraben when compared to the solvent control. However, 500 and 250 mu g/mL of paraben induced the CA after 24 h. Also, we observed a significant decrease in the cytokinesis-block proliferation index in cells exposed 250-500 mu g/mL paraben for 24 h, and 100, 250, and 500 mu g/mL for 48 h. The mitotic index was also decreased at all concentrations and periods. However, the proliferation index was statistically decreased at all concentrations after 48 h treatments. Only the highest concentration of paraben caused DNA migration (mean tail length) in human lymphocytes analyzed by Comet assay. Taken together, results indicated that paraben had cytotoxic effects and caused genotoxicity by affecting directly chromosomes and DNA in human lymphocyte cells in vitro, and may have genotoxic potential for human.