# Benzoate Drugs for Traumatic Brain Injury

**Authors:** Swarupa Pahan, Kalipada Pahan

PMC · DOI: 10.33140/jcei.11.01.02 · 2026-03-26

## TL;DR

This review explores the potential of benzoate drugs, like sodium benzoate and glyceryl tribenzoate, as possible treatments for traumatic brain injury.

## Contribution

The paper evaluates two FDA-approved benzoates as novel therapeutic candidates for traumatic brain injury.

## Key findings

- Sodium benzoate and glyceryl tribenzoate show potential in reducing TBI-related pathologies in rodent studies.
- These benzoates are already FDA-approved for other uses, suggesting a pathway for repurposing in TBI treatment.
- The review highlights the need for further research into benzoates as therapeutic options for TBI.

## Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acute disorder with prolonged complexities that affirm to be the leading cause of deaths and disabilities in US. The pathophysiology of TBI comprises of multiple complex processes. An impactful insult results in tissue damage, neuroinflammation, impaired cerebral blood flow, BBB disruption, and demyelination, leading to neurodegeneration and functional impairments. There are no specific treatments for TBI. Recent studies highlight the potential efficacy of the following benzoates for attenuating TBI pathologies in rodents:
Sodium benzoate, a metabolite of cinnamon, a widely used food additive and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for glycine encephalopathyGlyceryl tribenzoate, FDA-approved flavoring element being used in food and food packing productions
In this review, we have made a genuine attempt to evaluate the significance of these two benzoates as prospective therapeutic options for TBI.

Sodium benzoate, a metabolite of cinnamon, a widely used food additive and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for glycine encephalopathy

Glyceryl tribenzoate, FDA-approved flavoring element being used in food and food packing productions

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** Sodium benzoate (PubChem CID 517055), Glyceryl tribenzoate (PubChem CID 61156)
- **Diseases:** Traumatic brain injury (MONDO:0858950), glycine encephalopathy (MONDO:0011612)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Nos2 (nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible) [NCBI Gene 18126] {aka MAC-NOS, NOS-II, Nos-2, Nos2a, i-NOS, iNOS}, Dlg4 (discs large MAGUK scaffold protein 4) [NCBI Gene 13385] {aka Dlgh4, PSD-95, PSD95, SAP90, SAP90A}, LRRK2 (leucine rich repeat kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 120892] {aka AURA17, DARDARIN, PARK8, RIPK7, ROCO2}, Hmgcr (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase) [NCBI Gene 15357] {aka HMG-CoAR, Red}, APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}, Gria1 (glutamate receptor, ionotropic, AMPA1 (alpha 1)) [NCBI Gene 14799] {aka 2900051M01Rik, Glr-1, Glr1, GluA1, GluR-A, GluRA}, TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) [NCBI Gene 7054] {aka DYT14, DYT5b, TYH}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, MAPT (microtubule associated protein tau) [NCBI Gene 4137] {aka DDPAC, FTD1, FTDP-17, MAPTL, MSTD, MTBT1}, Hras (Hras proto-oncogene, GTPase) [NCBI Gene 15461] {aka H-ras, Ha-ras, Harvey-ras, Hras-1, Hras1, Kras2}, Cxcl15 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 15) [NCBI Gene 20309] {aka Il8, Scyb15, lungkine, weche}, SNCA (synuclein alpha) [NCBI Gene 6622] {aka NACP, PARK1, PARK4, PD1}, Gfap (glial fibrillary acidic protein) [NCBI Gene 14580], Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, TARDBP (TAR DNA binding protein) [NCBI Gene 23435] {aka ALS10, TDP-43}, Iba1 (induction of brown adipocytes 1) [NCBI Gene 114737], Grin2a (glutamate receptor, ionotropic, NMDA2A (epsilon 1)) [NCBI Gene 14811] {aka GluN2A, GluRepsilon1, NMDAR2A, NR2A}, Ccl3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3) [NCBI Gene 20302] {aka G0S19-1, LD78alpha, MIP-1alpha, MIP1-(a), MIP1-alpha, Mip1a}, Il1b (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 16176] {aka IL-1beta, Il-1b}, Tnf (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 21926] {aka DIF, TNF-a, TNF-alpha, TNFSF2, TNFalpha, Tnfa}, Ocln (occludin) [NCBI Gene 18260] {aka Ocl}, Rela (Rela proto-oncogene, NFKB subunit) [NCBI Gene 19697] {aka p65, p65 NF-kappa B, p65 NFkB}
- **Diseases:** convulsion (MESH:D012640), urea cycle disorder (MESH:D056806), inflammation (MESH:D007249), vomiting (MESH:D014839), tremor (MESH:D014202), Edema (MESH:D004487), coma (MESH:D003128), postural instability (MESH:D054972), TBI (MESH:D000070642), anxiety (MESH:D001007), neuronal deaths (MESH:D009410), memory disorder (MESH:D008569), head trauma (MESH:D006259), brain damage (MESH:D001925), AD (MESH:D000544), fatigue (MESH:D005221), Lewy body accumulation (MESH:D020961), disability (MESH:D009069), parkinsonism (MESH:D010302), MS (MESH:D009103), gait and balance disturbances (MESH:D020233), blurred vision (MESH:D014786), tissue damage (MESH:D017695), functional (MESH:D003291), PTSD (MESH:D013313), agitation (MESH:D011595), confusion (MESH:D003221), impairment of different body functions (MESH:D057215), dementia (MESH:D003704), loss of coordination (MESH:D001259), amyloid plaques (MESH:D058225), ischemic (MESH:D002545), blood (MESH:D006402), loss of consciousness (MESH:D014474), neurodegeneration (MESH:D019636), HD (MESH:D006816), glycine encephalopathy (MESH:D020158), CCI (MESH:D004834), dysphoric mood (MESH:C565864), neurological diseases (MESH:D020271), akinesia (MESH:C537921), headache (MESH:D006261), CNS injury (MESH:D002494), numbness (MESH:D006987), immunological and neurological disorders (MESH:D007153), Neuroinflammation (MESH:D000090862), anxiety symptoms (MESH:D001008), irritability (MESH:D001523), Mood disturbance (MESH:D019964), sleep disturbances (MESH:D012893), PD (MESH:D010300), Cognitive Deficit (MESH:D003072), Hematoma (MESH:D006406), weakness (MESH:D018908), dysfunction of memory and learning (MESH:D007859), Depression (MESH:D003866), falls (MESH:C537863), Demyelination (MESH:D003711), death (MESH:D003643), contusion (MESH:D003288)
- **Chemicals:** farnesyl pyrophosphate (MESH:C004808), tyrosine (MESH:D014443), DA (MESH:D004298), LPS (MESH:D008070), acetyl-CoA (MESH:D000105), benzoyl-CoA (MESH:C037817), ROS (MESH:D017382), NMDA (MESH:D016202), Benzoate (MESH:D001565), 1 methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MESH:D015655), Sodium benzoate (MESH:D020160), superoxide (MESH:D013481), AMPA (MESH:D018350), MDA (MESH:D008315), NO (MESH:D009569), 5XFAD (-), Cholesterol (MESH:D002784), calcium (MESH:D002118), GTB (MESH:C000722487)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Cercopithecidae (monkey, family) [taxon 9527], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Rodentia (rodent, order) [taxon 9989]
- **Mutations:** A53T

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13015919/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13015919