Toxicity Profile for Sorbitan monostearate (1990)

Abstract

Sorbitan monostearate increased gastric motility in two individuals given high single oral doses. Some indication of weak skin sensitization potential has been observed in man. In rabbits, sorbitan monostearate was irritant when applied repeatedly to the skin. It was of low acute oral toxicity to rats and repeated oral administration affected the kidney, liver and blood of rats and mice, and induced gastro-intestinal disturbances in dogs and hamsters. Reproduction and foetal development were apparently unaffected in rats treated orally although offspring survival was reduced at doses which were probably maternally toxic. There was no evidence of carcinogenic potential in rats and mice given sorbitan monostearate orally. No genotoxic potential was seen in mammalian cells treated in culture or in bacterial tests (including an Ames assay).