Sodium butanoate (Sodium Butyrate) is the sodium salt of butyrate with potential antineoplastic activity. Butyrate, a short chain fatty acid, competitively binds to the zinc sites of class I and II histone deacetylases (HDACs).

Sodium butyrate enhances the acetylation of histones and specific protein-1 while concurrently inhibiting the neurotoxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid. In the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease, sodium butyrate effectively delays the onset of symptoms and prolongs the survival period.

Sodium butyrate exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects in the colonic mucosa, reducing oxidative stress and thus inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells. It also induces apoptosis in the RG/C2 and AA/Cl adenoma cell lines.

Cells are seeded at a density of 2,000 cells/well in 96-well plates with 200 μL culture medium containing Sodium Butyrate at different concentrations. Then, the cells are consecutively cultured for 72 h. Every 24 h, 20 μL 5 mg/mL MTT solution is added into the corresponding well, and the cells are cultured for another 4 h. Then, the solution is replaced with 150 μL dimethylsulfoxide, followed by gentle agitation of the plates for 15 min at room temperature. Finally, the absorbance at 492 nm is measured to represent the cell viability.