E281 (Sodium propionate) is a chemical compound, natural salt, short-chain fatty acid.

It appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Sodium propionate has been shown to suppress invasion into G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and breast cancer cells, and is therefore considered a therapeutic agent in the treatment of breast cancer (1). It has also been found to have a positive effect and potential for therapies that alleviate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (2) and may be considered an effective strategy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. (3).

This study found that administration of sodium propionate reduced eye lesions caused by herpes simplex virus infection in animals (4).  It is effective against all bacteria that cause common eye infections and against fungi, such as blepharitis (5).

Food

Ingredient included in the list of European food additives as E281, a preservative mainly used by the dairy industry to prevent mould growth and as a selective agent for the isolation of bifidobacteria (6).

Safety

Sodium propionate is not considered carcinogenic. Tests for teratogenicity and reproductive toxicity for calcium propionate and sodium propionate were negative (7) and it is not a skin sensitiser (8).

Cosmetics

It is a restricted ingredient V/2 as Relevant item in the Annexes of the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Maximum concentration in the ready-for-use preparation 2%.

Preservative. Any product containing organic, inorganic compounds, water, needs to be preserved from microbial contamination. Preservatives act against the development of harmful microorganisms and against oxidation of the product.

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

"Propionic Acid studies"

• Molecular Formula      C₃H₅O₂Na    CH₃CH₂COONa    C₃H₅NaO₂
• Molecular Weight      96.06
• CAS  137-40-6
• UNII    DK6Y9P42IN
• EC Number   205-290-4
• DSSTox ID  DTXSID7021996
• IUPAC  sodium;propanoate
• InChl=1S/C3H6O2.Na/c1-2-3(4)5;/h2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;+1/p-1
• InChl Key      JXKPEJDQGNYQSM-UHFFFAOYSA-M
• SMILES  CCC(=O)[O-].[Na+]
• MDL number  MFCD00002759
• PubChem Substance ID    24898252
• Beilstein    3566934
• NACRES NA.25
• ChEBI   132106
• RTECS  UF7525000
• NCI    C84167
• ICSC    0557
• RXCUI         1432980
• Nikkaji        J4.430J

Synonyms:

• propionic acid sodium salt
• deketon
• propisol
• whit-pro

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Park HS, Han JH, Park JW, Lee DH, Jang KW, Lee M, Heo KS, Myung CS. Sodium propionate exerts anticancer effect in mice bearing breast cancer cell xenograft by regulating JAK2/STAT3/ROS/p38 MAPK signaling. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2021 Aug;42(8):1311-1323. doi: 10.1038/s41401-020-00522-2. 

(2) Lang W, Li X, Wang Y, Duan Y, Wang Y, Wei P, Li X, Zhu Q, Cui Y. Sodium propionate improves cognitive and memory function in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett. 2022 Nov 20;791:136887. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136887.

(3) Filippone A, Lanza M, Campolo M, Casili G, Paterniti I, Cuzzocrea S, Esposito E. The Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Sodium Propionate. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 24;21(8):3026. doi: 10.3390/ijms21083026.

(4) Sumbria D, Berber E, Rouse BT. Supplementing the Diet with Sodium Propionate Suppresses the Severity of Viral Immuno-inflammatory Lesions. J Virol. 2021 Jan 28;95(4):e02056-20. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02056-20. 

(5) Theodore, F. H. (1950). Use of sodium propionate in external infections of the eyes. Journal of the American Medical Association, 143(3), 226-228.

(6) Lapierre, L., Undeland, P., & Cox, L. J. (1992). Lithium chloride-sodium propionate agar for the enumeration of bifidobacteria in fermented dairy products. Journal of Dairy Science, 75(5), 1192-1196.

(7) Türkoğlu, Ş. (2008). Evaluation of genotoxic effects of sodium propionate, calcium propionate and potassium propionate on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(6), 2035-2041.

(8) EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP). (2011). Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of propionic acid, sodium propionate, calcium propionate and ammonium propionate for all animal species. EFSA Journal, 9(12), 2446.