sulfobromophthalein

Sulfobromophthalein is a synthetic dye and small molecule used primarily as a diagnostic agent to assess liver function in humans. It acts as a substrate for organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) and is transported into hepatocytes, where it undergoes conjugation with glutathione before being excreted into bile via multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2). Its hepatic uptake and biliary excretion are the basis for its use in the bromsulphthalein test of liver function. Sulfobromophthalein can also inhibit aldo-keto reductase AKR1C20 and has been shown to inhibit the biliary secretion of glutathione by directly inhibiting the GSH transport process. The compound has been used since at least 1925 for hepatic diagnostics.

Brand names

Hepatestabrome

Other names

bromsulphthaleinsulphobromophthalein4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-3',3''-disulfophenolphthaleinsulfobromophtaleinbromosulfophthalein