Potassium bromate and DNA damage in human liver cells
What it found
In human liver cells grown in the lab, potassium bromate caused DNA breaks and chromosome damage.
Adding an antioxidant before exposure sharply reduced the DNA breaks.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
DNA breaks in cells
Potassium bromate increased DNA migration in the single cell gel electrophoresis assay at all tested concentrations (1.56 to 12.5 mM). This suggests the chemical caused DNA strand breaks.
Chromosome damage in cells
Micronuclei frequencies rose in the micronucleus test at all tested concentrations (0.12 to 1 mM). This points to chromosome damage.
Antioxidant reduced damage
When cells were pre-treated with hydroxytyrosol, an antioxidant, DNA migration dropped dramatically.
Oxidative stress markers
Potassium bromate triggered reactive oxygen species production at 12.5 mM, glutathione depletion at 1.56 to 12.5 mM, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation at 6.25 to 12.5 mM in the liver cells.
Lysosomes and mitochondria
Lysosomal membrane stability increased significantly at 6.25 to 12.5 mM. At those same concentrations, no changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were detected.
What the authors conclude
“These results suggest that PB exerts oxidative stress and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells, possibly through the mechanisms of lysosomal damage, an earlier event preceding the oxidative DNA damage.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that potassium bromate causes oxidative stress and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells.
- They suggest this may happen through lysosomal damage, which they describe as an earlier event before oxidative DNA damage.
How it was done
Potassium bromate is a by-product of ozone used to disinfect drinking water and is also a widely used food additive. The authors say little is known about its harmful effects, especially whether it can damage DNA in humans.
They exposed human liver cancer cells (HepG2) to potassium bromate at concentrations from 0.12 to 12.5 mM. They measured DNA breaks, chromosome damage, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, lysosomal membrane stability and mitochondrial membrane potential.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab-grown human liver cells, not people. They cannot show what happens in a living person who eats or drinks potassium bromate.
- The cells were exposed directly to the chemical at concentrations set in the lab, which may not match real-world exposure through food or water.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Dalian Medical University, China
The paper
- Title
- Possible involvement of oxidative stress in potassium bromate-induced genotoxicity in human HepG2 cells
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zhang Y, Jiang L, Jiang L, et al (2011). Possible involvement of oxidative stress in potassium bromate-induced genotoxicity in human HepG2 cells. Chemico-biological interactions. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2010.12.011PubMed 21182833DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error