Metabolism / Metabolites
Metabolic studies indicate that sorbic acid is metabolized in a manner essentially the same as saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids with the same number of carbon atoms. Under normal conditions, sorbic acid is almost completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. /Sorbic Acid/

Toxicity Summary
Identification and Uses: Potassium sorbate is a white crystalline or powdery substance with a characteristic odor. It is used as a preservative and antimicrobial agent in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and has also been used as a medicine. Human Exposure and Toxicity: Preparations containing up to 0.5% sorbic acid and/or potassium sorbate at tested concentrations have not shown significant primary or cumulative irritation or sensitization. A few cases of specific intolerance (non-immune contact urticaria and pseudo-sensitization) have been reported in humans. Animal Studies: In acute oral toxicity studies, potassium sorbate showed almost no toxicity in rats and mice. Potassium sorbate at concentrations up to 10% showed almost no eye irritation in rabbits. Mutagenicity of Potassium Sorbic Acid: The mutagenicity of potassium sorbate has been tested using the Ames test, recombination test, reverse mutation test, rec test, chromosomal aberration test, sister chromatid exchange test, and gene mutation test. Results were both positive and negative. No tumors were observed in rats after 100 weeks of treatment with 0.1% potassium sorbate in their feed or 0.3% in their drinking water. No teratogenic effects were observed with potassium sorbate in pregnant mice and rats. Interactions Under acidic conditions (pH 4.95), the food additives sodium nitrite and potassium sorbate exhibited cytotoxic and inhibitory effects on V79 hamster cells and EUE human fibroblasts cultured in vitro. Strong cytotoxicity of sodium nitrite and the combined effect of sodium nitrite and potassium sorbate were observed, accompanied by inhibition of macromolecular synthesis. Potassium sorbate was less effective in this regard. These substances led to reduced cell plating efficiency and inhibited de novo DNA synthesis, raising questions about their potential genotoxicity to V79 cells. Statistical analysis showed that sodium nitrite induced more 6-TG resistant (6-TGr) mutants compared to the untreated control group. However, this increase was not consistent with the level of DNA synthesis inhibition measured over a period after the removal of the substance. In our experiments, potassium sorbate and its combination with sodium nitrite did not show mutagenic effects. Although potassium sorbate (PS), ascorbic acid, and ferric or ferrous salts (Fe salts) are widely used as food additives, the strong reactivity of PS and the oxidizing power of ascorbic acid in the presence of Fe salts may lead to the formation of toxic compounds during food deposition and transportation. This paper uses the Ames test and rec-assay method to evaluate the mutagenic and DNA-damaging activities of the PS, ascorbic acid, and ferric salt reaction mixture. The rec-assay results showed that the mixture was effectively lethal. No mutagenicity was observed in either Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 (with or without the S-9 mixture) or strain TA100 (with the S-9 mixture). Conversely, a dose-dependent mutagenic effect was observed when applied to strain TA100 without the S-9 mixture. Mutagenic activity increased with increasing reaction time. Furthermore, the reaction products obtained under a nitrogen atmosphere did not show any mutagenic or DNA-damaging activity. PS, ascorbic acid, and ferric salts were inactive when used alone. Omitting any one component from the mixture of PS, ascorbic acid, and iron salts renders the reaction system inactive. These results indicate that ascorbic acid and iron salts oxidize PS, and their oxidation products possess mutagenic and DNA-damaging activity.

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Non-human toxicity values
Oral LD50 in rats: 4920 mg/kg
Intraperitoneal LD50 in mice: 1300 mg/kg

[1]. Growth and Inhibition of Microorganisms in the Presence of Sorbic Acid: A Review. J Food Prot. 1985 Apr;48(4):364-375.

Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt with sorbate as its counterion. It is an antibacterial food preservative containing (E,E)-sorbate. It is a mold and yeast inhibitor. Used as an antibacterial agent in foods, especially cheese.
Therapeutic Uses
This article presents 122 cases of vaginal fungal infections treated with potassium sorbate. A novel home follow-up method, using vaginal tampons, was explored. Symptoms were rapidly relieved, and the yeast disappeared; the safety and superior efficacy of higher concentration (3%) solutions were confirmed. Treatment of male fungal infections is also discussed in this article.

C6H7KO2

150.2169

150.008

24634-61-5

Sorbic acid;110-44-1

23676745

White to off-white solid powder

1,361 g/cm3

233ºC at 760 mmHg

270 °C

139.9ºC

0

2

2

9

127

0

C/C=C/C=C/C(=O)[O-].[K+]

CHHHXKFHOYLYRE-STWYSWDKSA-M

InChI=1S/C6H8O2.K/c1-2-3-4-5-6(7)8;/h2-5H,1H3,(H,7,8);/q;+1/p-1/b3-2+,5-4+;

potassium;(2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: Please store this product in a sealed and protected environment, avoid exposure to moisture.

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

H2O : ~50 mg/mL (~332.85 mM)
DMSO :< 1 mg/mL

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.)