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Published on: September 15, 2017
Endocrine Activity of AVB, 2MR, BHA, and Their Mixtures
Ivana Klopcic1, Marija Sollner Dolenc1
1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Aškerceva 7.
Abstract:
Personal care products are used increasingly, resulting in growing concern concerning their potential disruption of normal hormonal functions. Recent results on the bioaccumulation of cosmetic ingredients in wildlife and humans point to the need for an in-depth analysis for endocrine activity, in particular with respect to their influence on the androgen (AR), glucocorticoid (GR), and thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). Furthermore, humans are commonly exposed simultaneously to complex mixtures of endocrine active compounds. We have therefore examined 3 frequently used cosmetic ingredients: 2-methylresorcinol (2MR), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and avobenzone (AVB), for (anti)-androgen-, (anti)-glucocorticoid-, and (anti)-thyroid hormone-like activities. Their binary and ternary mixtures at EC50 or IC50 concentrations have also been examined for anti-androgen-, glucocorticoid-, and thyroid hormone-like activities. In the MDA-kb2 reporter cell line, compounds possessed anti-androgen-, glucocorticoid-, and anti-glucocorticoid-like activities (except AVB). A new cell line, GH3.TRE-Luc, was used to evaluate anti-thyroid and thyroid hormone-like activities. The combinations 2MR + BHA and 2MR + BHA + AVB have glucocorticoid-like activity: only 2MR + AVB has anti-androgen-like activity. On the other hand, binary and ternary mixtures of compounds showed no thyroid hormone-like activity. Thus, in addition to identifying new endocrine disrupting compounds, it is also necessary to determine the effects of their mixtures in order to assess fully their risk to human health.
Insights
Three common cosmetic ingredients, 2-methylresorcinol, butylated hydroxyanisole, and avobenzone, show endocrine-disrupting activities, particularly affecting androgen and glucocorticoid receptors, and their mixtures can enhance these effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Toxicology
- Cosmetic Science
Background:
- Increasing personal care product use raises concerns about hormonal disruption.
- Cosmetic ingredients bioaccumulate, necessitating analysis of endocrine activity on key receptors.
- Simultaneous exposure to multiple endocrine-disrupting compounds is common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the endocrine activity of 2-methylresorcinol (2MR), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and avobenzone (AVB).
- To assess the anti-androgen, anti-glucocorticoid, and anti-thyroid activities of these compounds and their mixtures.
- To evaluate the influence of binary and ternary mixtures on endocrine receptor activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the MDA-kb2 reporter cell line to assess anti-androgen and glucocorticoid activities.
- Employed the GH3.TRE-Luc cell line to evaluate anti-thyroid and thyroid hormone-like activities.
- Tested individual compounds and their mixtures (binary and ternary) at EC50 or IC50 concentrations.
Main Results:
- 2MR and BHA demonstrated anti-androgen and glucocorticoid-like activities; AVB showed glucocorticoid activity.
- Mixtures like 2MR + BHA and 2MR + BHA + AVB exhibited glucocorticoid-like activity.
- The mixture 2MR + AVB showed anti-androgen activity, while no thyroid hormone-like activity was observed for any mixtures.
Conclusions:
- Identified 2MR, BHA, and AVB as compounds with potential endocrine-disrupting effects.
- Highlighted the importance of studying compound mixtures to fully assess human health risks.
- Emphasized the need for comprehensive risk assessment considering combined effects of cosmetic ingredients.
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