| Description | Phenol Red sodium salt is a water-soluble pH indicator used in the range from 6.8 (yellow) to 8.2 (red). |
| In vitro | Phenol Red sodium salt is commonly employed as a cell tissue culture pH marker. Under normal conditions, phenol red added to the growth medium will have a pink-red color. Dying cells or overgrowth of contaminants will cause a change in pH resulting in a change in indicator color. Phenol red bears a structural resemblance to some nonsteroidal estrogens and has significant estrogenic activity at the concentrations (15-45 μM) at which it is found in tissue culture media. Phenol red binds to the estrogen receptor of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and stimulates the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner but has no effect on the growth of estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells [1]. |
| Synonyms | Phenolsulfonephthalein sodium salt |
| molecular weight | 377.37 |
| Molecular formula | C19H14NaO5S |
| CAS | 34487-61-1 |
| Storage | keep away from direct sunlight | Powder: -20°C for 3 years | In solvent: -80°C for 1 year |
| Solubility | DMSO: 33.33 mg/mL (88.56 mM), Sonication is recommended. H2O: 10 mg/mL (26.57 mM), Sonication is recommended. |
| References | 1. Berthois Y, et al. Phenol red in tissue culture media is a weak estrogen: implications concerning the study of estrogen-responsive cells in culture. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Apr;83(8):2496-500. 2. Pick E, et al. A simple colorimetric method for the measurement of hydrogen peroxide produced by cells in culture. J Immunol Methods. 1980;38(1-2):161-70. |