Particulate iron oxide food colorants (E 172) during artificial digestion and their uptake and impact on intestinal cells.

Iron oxide of various structures is frequently used as food colorant (E 172). The spectrum of colors ranges from yellow over orange, red, and brown to black, depending on the chemical structure of the material. E 172 is mostly sold as solid powder. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of nanoscaled particles in E 172 samples, often to a very high extent. This makes it necessary to investigate the fate of these particles after oral uptake. In this study, 7 differently structured commercially available E 172 food colorants (2 x Yellow FeO(OH), 2 x Red Fe2O3, 1 x Orange Fe2O3 + FeO(OH) and 2 x Black Fe3O4) were investigated for particle dissolution, ion release, cellular uptake, crossing of the intestinal barrier and toxicological impact on intestinal cells. Dissolution was analyzed in water, cell culture medium and artificial digestion fluids. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was employed for determination of the specific surface area of the colorants in the digestion fluids. Cellular uptake, transport and toxicological effects were studied using human differentiated Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model of the intestinal barrier. For all materials, a strong interaction with the intestinal cells was observed, albeit there was only a limited dissolution, and no toxic in vitro effects on human cells were recorded.

Azo dyes in the food industry: Features, classification, toxicity, alternatives, and regulation.

Azo dyes, including Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, and Carmoisine, are added to foods to provide color, but they have no value with regard to nutrition, food preservation, or health benefits. Because of their availability, affordability, stability, and low cost, and because they provide intense coloration to the product without contributing unwanted flavors, the food industry often prefers to use synthetic azo dyes rather than natural colorants. Food dyes have been tested by regulatory agencies responsible for guaranteeing consumer safety. Nevertheless, the safety of these colorants remains controversial; they have been associated with adverse effects, particularly due to the reduction and cleavage of the azo bond. Here, we review the features, classification, regulation, toxicity, and alternatives to the use of azo dyes in food.

Chronic exposure to synthetic food colorant Allura Red AC promotes susceptibility to experimental colitis via intestinal serotonin in mice.

Chemicals in food are widely used leading to significant human exposure. Allura Red AC (AR) is a highly common synthetic colorant; however, little is known about its impact on colitis. Here, we show chronic exposure of AR at a dose found in commonly consumed dietary products exacerbates experimental models of colitis in mice. While intermittent exposure is more akin to a typical human exposure, intermittent exposure to AR in mice for 12 weeks, does not influence susceptibility to colitis. However, exposure to AR during early life primes mice to heightened susceptibility to colitis. In addition, chronic exposure to AR induces mild colitis, which is associated with elevated colonic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) levels and impairment of the epithelial barrier function via myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). Importantly, chronic exposure to AR does not influence colitis susceptibility in mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), the rate limiting enzyme for 5-HT biosynthesis. Cecal transfer of the perturbed gut microbiota by AR exposure worsens colitis severity in the recipient germ-free (GF) mice. Furthermore, chronic AR exposure elevates colonic 5-HT levels in naïve GF mice. Though it remains unknown whether AR has similar effects in humans, our study reveals that chronic long-term exposure to a common synthetic colorant promotes experimental colitis via colonic 5-HT in gut microbiota-dependent and -independent pathway in mice.

Riboflavin attenuates tartrazine toxicity in the cerebellar cortex of adult albino rat.

Tartrazine is a synthetic yellowish dye considered one of the most common food colorants. Extensive usage of tartrazine in humans led to harmful health impacts. To investigate the impact of tartrazine administration on the cerebellum and to assess the potential role of riboflavin co-administration in the adult male albino rat. Four groups of adult albino rats were included in this study. Group I was supplied with distilled water. Group II was supplied tartrazine orally at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg BW dissolved in distilled water. Group III was supplied with tartrazine at the same previously mentioned dose and riboflavin orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg BW dissolved in distilled water. Group IV was supplied with riboflavin at the same previously mentioned dose. The study was conducted for 30 days then rats were sacrificed, weighted and the cerebella extracted and handled for light, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation. It was found with tartrazine treatment focal areas of Purkinje cell loss leaving empty spaces, a broad spread of neuronal affection to the degree of the disappearance of some of the granular cells, reduced the thickness of the molecular and granular layers, and strong positive GFAP immunoreactions. With riboflavin coadministration restored continuous Purkinje layer with normal appeared Purkinje cells, but some cells were still shrunken and vacuolated as well as the molecular and granular cell layers appeared normal. Tartrazine had deleterious effects on the cerebellar cytoarchitecture, and riboflavin co-administration alleviated these neurotoxic effects.

Role of salts and solvents on the defibrillation of food dye "sunset yellow" induced hen egg white lysozyme amyloid fibrils.

Several food dyes are known to induce amyloid fibrillation when interacting with proteins. Here, we studied the role of sunset yellow (SY) in the amyloid fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and characterized the changes using spectroscopy techniques. Turbidity results showed that SY dye induces aggregation in HEWL in concentrations dependent manner. The aggregation induced by SY dye is kinetically very fast, no lag phase was detected, and the kinetics process follows an isodesmic kinetics pathway. The SY-dye induce aggregates have cross-ß secondary structure confirmed by far-UV CD measurements. The effect of salts and solvents was also seen on SY-induced aggregates. Turbidity, far-UV CD, and kinetics results suggest that certain concentrations of NaCl and (NH4)2SO4 solubilize the SY-induce amyloid fibrils, but (NH4)2SO4 is more effective. Similarly, solvents are also solubilized the SY-induces HEWL amyloid fibrillation but the order of defibrillation is as follows: Isopropanol> ethanol > methanol which signified that isopropanol is more effective than other solvents. The salts and solvents data suggest that the electrostatic, as well as hydrophobic interaction, is responsible for SY-induced amyloid fibrillation. These conformational changes should be examined, more seriously for the purpose of food safety.

Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence.

Concern that synthetic food dyes may impact behavior in children prompted a review by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). OEHHA conducted a systematic review of the epidemiologic research on synthetic food dyes and neurobehavioral outcomes in children with or without identified behavioral disorders (particularly attention and activity). We also conducted a search of the animal toxicology literature to identify studies of neurobehavioral effects in laboratory animals exposed to synthetic food dyes. Finally, we conducted a hazard characterization of the potential neurobehavioral impacts of food dye consumption. We identified 27 clinical trials of children exposed to synthetic food dyes in this review, of which 25 were challenge studies. All studies used a cross-over design and most were double blinded and the cross-over design was randomized. Sixteen (64%) out of 25 challenge studies identified some evidence of a positive association, and in 13 (52%) the association was statistically significant. These studies support a relationship between food dye exposure and adverse behavioral outcomes in children. Animal toxicology literature provides additional support for effects on behavior. Together, the human clinical trials and animal toxicology literature support an association between synthetic food dyes and behavioral impacts in children. The current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptable daily intakes are based on older studies that were not designed to assess the types of behavioral effects observed in children. For four dyes where adequate dose-response data from animal and human studies were available, comparisons of the effective doses in studies that measured behavioral or brain effects following exposure to synthetic food dyes indicate that the basis of the ADIs may not be adequate to protect neurobehavior in susceptible children. There is a need to re-evaluate exposure in children and for additional research to provide a more complete database for establishing ADIs protective of neurobehavioral effects.

Effects of the food colorant carmoisine on zebrafish embryos at a wide range of concentrations.

Since the middle of the twentieth century, the use of dyes has become more common in every food group as well as in the pharmaceutical, textile and cosmetic industries. Azo dyes, including carmoisine, are the most important of the dye classes with the widest color range. In this study, the effects of carmoisine exposure on the embryonic development of zebrafish at a wide dose scale, including recommended and overexposure doses (from 4 to 2000 ppm), were investigated in detail. For this purpose, many morphological and physiological parameters were examined in zebrafish exposed to carmoisine at determined doses for 96 h, and the mechanisms of action of the changes in these parameters were tried to be clarified with the metabolite levels determined. The no observed effect concentration (NOEC) and median lethal concentration (LC50) were recorded at 5 ppm and 1230.53 ppm dose at 96 hpf, respectively. As a result, it was determined that the applied carmoisine caused serious malformations, reduction in height and eye diameter, increase in the number of free oxygen radicals, in apoptotic cells and in lipid accumulation, decrease in locomotor activity depending on the dose and at the highest dose, decrease in blood flow rate. In the metabolome analysis performed to elucidate the metabolism underlying all these changes, 45 annotated metabolites were detected.

Non-permitted food colorants induced neurotoxicity in cerebellum of rat brain.

Food colorants are important food additives that not only enhance the appearance of food but also appetite. These can be obtained from natural and synthetic sources, but synthetic sources are more popular, efficient, and potential. Non-permitted food colorants (NPFCs) are banned, but their injudicious use in developing countries associated with various adverse health effects. They have potentially toxic effects on the body organs like the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, gut, etc. In view of their toxicity pattern, the present study aims to investigate the effect of three NPFCs (MY: Metanil yellow; MG: Malachite green; SIII: Sudan III) on oxidative stress, mitochondrial complexes, neurochemicals, and histological changes in the cerebellum of rats. Rats treated with MY (430 mg/kg), MG (13.75 mg/kg), SIII (250 mg/kg), and their mixtures (YGR) (MY 143.33 + MG 4.52 + SIII 83.33 mg/kg) p.o. for 60 days showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and decreased level of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity as compared to controls. An increase in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and a significant decrease in the activity of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and mitochondrial complex I and II was also observed in NPFCs treated rats as compared to controls. Further, the histological study also revealed the loss of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum of the rat brain. The results of the present study indicate that NPFCs exposure to rats enhances oxidative stress and alters the activity of neurochemicals and mitochondrial complexes which could further lead to neuronal loss and behavioral dysfunctions.

Red Tomato Products as an Alternative to Reduce Synthetic Dyes in the Food Industry: A Review.

Most dyes used in the food industry are synthetic and can be a health hazard. Red tomato may serve as a natural alternative dye to replace synthetic colorants. This study aimed to review the literature on the addition of red tomato products (powder tomato, paste, freeze-dried, tomato peel powder, tomato pomace) to reduce the usage of synthetic dyes in the food industry. Red tomato products have been used as coloring in pasta, bologna, sausages, cookies, crackers, macaroons, hamburgers, breads, muffins, cheeses, and nuggets. The trans-cis isomerization of lycopene by oxidative processes directly affects the color of the pigment. The lycopene contained in tomato has antioxidant activity and could reduce or eliminate other oxidants and/or synthetic preservatives in food. Moreover, tomatoes in foods have high sensory scores, nutritional appeal, and marketing potential. However, its use as a food colorant has been not extensively explored. Therefore, further studies are still required, especially on the stability of carotenoids in tomatoes used in processed foods.

Regulatory Role of Nano-Curcumin against Tartrazine-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis-Related Genes Expression, and Genotoxicity in Rats.

The present study evaluates the regulatory effect of Nano-Curcumin (Nano-CUR) against tartrazine (TZ)-induced injuries on apoptosis-related gene expression (i.e., p53, CASP-3 and CASP-9), antioxidant status, and DNA damages in bone marrow in treated rats. Male rats were arbitrarily separated into five groups, and each group was comprised of 10 rats each. The 1st group served as control (G1). The 2nd group ingested 7.5 mg TZ/kg. b.w. (body weight). The 3rd group ingested Nano-CUR 1 g/kg b.w. The 4th and 5th groups were respectively administered with (1 g Nano-CUR + 7.5 mg TZ/kg. b.w.) and (2 g Nano-CUR + 7.5 mg TZ/kg. b.w.). At the end of the experiment, blood samples, livers, and kidneys were collected. Livers and kidneys were homogenized and used for the analysis of reduced glutathione, malonaldhyde, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxide antioxidant enzyme activities, apoptosis-related gene expression, and genotoxicity by comit test. The ingestion of TZ for 50 days resulted in significant decreases in body, and kidney weights in rats and a relative increase in the liver weight compared to control. In contrast, the ingestion of Nano-CUR with TZ remarkably upgraded the body weight and relative liver weight compared to the normal range in the control. Aditionally, TZ ingestion in rats increased the oxidative stress biomarkers lipid peroxide (LPO) and malonaldehyde (MDA) significantly, whereas it decreased the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Similarly, the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) significantly deteriorated in response to TZ ingestion. Moreover, the results revealed a remarkable up-regulation in the level of expression for the three examined genes, including p53, CASP-3, and CASP-9 in TZ-ingested rats compared to the control. On the other hand, the comet assay result indicates that the ingestion of TZ induced DNA damage in bone marrow. Notably, the administration of Nano-CUR protected the kidney and liver of TZ-ingested rats as evidenced by a significant elevation in all antioxidant activities of tested enzymes (i.e, SOD, GPx, and CAT), vital recovery in GSH and TAC levels, and a statistical decrease in LPO and MDA compared to TZ-ingested rats. Interestingly, the ingestion of rats with TZ modulates the observed up-regulation in the level of expression for the chosen genes, indicating the interfering role in the signaling transduction process of TZ-mediated poisoning. The results indicate that the administration of Nano-CUR may protect against TZ-induced DNA damage in bone marrow. According to the results, Nano-CUR exerted a potential protective effect against oxidative stress, DNA damage, and the up-regulation of apoptosis-related genes induced by TZ ingested to rats.

Effects of Tartrazine on Neural Tube Development in the Early Stage of Chicken Embryos.

AIM: To investigate the effects of tartrazine exposure on neural tube development, in early stage chicken embryos. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 120 fertilized specific pathogen-free chicken eggs were divided into 4 equal groups (groups 1?4). After 30 hours of incubation, the eggs, except for the Group 1 (control group), were opened under 4X optical magnification. Group 2 was administered physiological saline. Group 3 was administered a middle dose of tartrazin (4.5 mg/kg) at a volume of 20 µL by the in ovo method, and group 4 was administered a high dose of tartrazine (7.5 mg/kg) using the same process. Incubation was continued until the end of the 72nd hour; all embryos were then removed from the eggs and histopathologically examined. RESULTS: Of the 120 embryos incubated, normal development and the closed neural tubes were shown in all embryos in group 1; 23 in group 2; 19 in group 3 and; only 9 in group 4. Open neural tubes were found in; 4 embryos in group 2; 5 embryos in group 3 and; 13 embryos in group 4. The neural tube closure defect was found to be significantly higher in group 4 compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on our data, tartrazine, as one of the widely used food coloring agent, was seen to cause a neural tube defect in the chicken embryo model.

Combined effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and glucose on the blood glucose homeostasis in young rats after oral administration.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were usually consumed with a high content of sugar, and children were identified as having the highest exposures due to sweet food preferences. Research on the combined effect of ingested TiO2 NPs and glucose has great significance, particularly in young people. We examined young Sprague-Dawley rats administered TiO2 NPs (0, 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg) orally with and without glucose (1.8 g/kg) for 90 days. Blood glucose homeostasis was assessed by monitoring blood glucose and detecting glycoproteins. Glucose tolerance was also evaluated by the oral glucose tolerance test. The levels of blood glucose-related hormones such as insulin, C-peptide and glucagon were measured. We found that subchronic co-exposure of TiO2 NPs and glucose caused slight imbalance of blood glucose homeostasis in vivo. Mild and temporary hypoglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance and changes of glucose-regulating hormones were shown in the exposure groups. The combined effect of TiO2 NPs and glucose was more apparent than that of TiO2 NPs alone, which may be due to the effects of excess glucose and the interactions between TiO2 NPs and glucose. The antagonistic effect of TiO2 NPs with glucose did exist in the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in female rats. Gender differences were apparent in these effects induced by TiO2 NPs and glucose. Female rats seemed to be more susceptible for blood glucose disorders. Co-exposure of TiO2 NPs and excessive glucose could induce gender-dependent imbalance of blood glucose homeostasis in rats. It may be the reason that these consumers face greater health risks glycosylated hemoglobin.

Systematic assessment of mechanistic data for FDA-certified food colors and neurodevelopmental processes.

Seven US FDA-batch certified synthetic food colors are approved for use as food additives in the United States. Perceived neurodevelopmental concerns for these colors persist. This study assessed the plausibility of such an association through the evaluation of mechanistic evidence collected from in vitro assays or other alternative models. Mechanisms and molecular targets underlying neurodevelopmental processes associated with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental-related symptoms (e.g., cognitive function, learning and memory disorder, etc.) were identified. Publicly available data from the ToxCast/Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) program and peer-reviewed literature that measure activity of the colors for such molecular targets were analyzed and reviewed. Erythrosine (Red No. 3) was active in several assays mapped to neurodevelopmental processes - specifically, HTS assays that measure signals in neurotransmitter pathways. The remaining six colors do not appear to alter signaling pathways related to neurodevelopmental processes on the molecular or cellular level. This assessment provides an approach for systematically identifying and mapping mechanistic data to putative neurodevelopmental processes as a means to prioritize substances for possible further investigation. The assessment also provides insights into the lack of activity of synthetic food colors for key events in neurodevelopmental signaling pathways.

In vivo genotoxicity assessment of sunset yellow and sodium benzoate in female rats.

The use of additives in different food products is growing up. It has attracted the attention towards the relation between the mutagenic potential of human diseases and food additives. Sunset yellow (SY) and sodium benzoate (NaB) are used as colorant and food additives worldwide. In the present study, genotoxic effects of different combinations of SY and NaB were assessed in vivo in female rats. Different combinations of SY and NaB were dissolved in water and administered daily to six animals groups for 12 weeks. Group 1 (control) received water, Group 2 received 5 mg/kg body weight (bw) SY plus 10 mg/kg bw NaB, group 3 received 5 mg/kg SY plus 100 mg/kg NaB, group 4 received 50 mg SY plus 100 mg/kg NaB, group 5 received 50 mg/kg SY plus 10 mg/kg NaB, group 6 received 200 mg/kg SY plus 750 mg/kg NaB, and group 7 received 20 mg/kg SY plus 75 mg/kg NaB. Genotoxicity investigations (Chromosomal aberration of bone marrow cells, Comet assay and DNA profile of liver cells) were carried out at the end of the experiment. Administration of 200 mg/kg SY plus 750 mg/kg NaB (group 6) induced the highest abnormalities percentage (1.5%) and showed structural abnormalities including end-to-end association, fragmentation, chromatid break, ring chromosome, and centric fusion break of chromosomes. Different combinations of SY and NaB induced an increase in the frequency of tailed nuclei (DNA damage) in liver cells. A concentration-dependent distinct DNA smear pattern was observed in the DNA isolated from liver cells of animals administered SY and NaB. In addition, administration of SY plus NaB resulted in an abnormal distribution of serum proteins. The results showed that the SY plus NaB could have genotoxic potential. With the increase applications of food additives, this study reported important data about screening the potential impacts.

Assessment of FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) effects on sperm count, motility and viability in the rat in a 28-day toxicity study.

Sunset Yellow FCF was tested for 28-days in male Hsd:SD® rats for its potential effect on sperm quality parameters at dietary concentrations of 6,000, 12,000 and 18,000 ppm, corresponding to target doses of 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg bw/day. The measured average daily intake was 490, 944, and 1,475 mg/kg bw/day, based on feed consumption and stability of Sunset Yellow FCF in the diet. The animals fed diets with Sunset Yellow FCF presented no clinical signs of toxicity and no differences in feed consumption, body weights, organ weights, ophthalmology, hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, or coagulation parameters that were considered adverse. No mortality or abnormalities were observed at necropsy, and no microscopic changes were observed in histopathology. Increased testes weights relative to body weight in animals of the middle and high intake groups were not associated with any abnormal findings in histopathology. Sperm quality evaluation presented no adverse effects on sperm motility, epididymal sperm count, homogenization-resistant spermatid count, or sperm morphological development. Therefore, in the absence of any adverse effects under the conditions of this study, the NOAEL for Sunset Yellow FCF was 1,475 mg/kg bw/day in male rats, corresponding to 18,000 ppm in the diet.

Honey attenuates the toxic effects of the low dose of tartrazine in male rats.

Honey is traditionally used in burns, wound healing, ulcers, boils, and fistulas. Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats for 8 weeks. The 18 rats of the experiment were randomly divided into three 6-rat groups. The negative control group (G1) fed diet with sulfanilic acid, the tartrazine positive group (G2) fed diet containing tartrazine and sulfanilic acid and the honey-treated group (G3) fed diet as in G2 and cotreated with honey. Tartrazine decreased antioxidants, high-density lipoproteins and proteins, and increased liver enzymes, kidney indices, lipid peroxidation, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low- and very-low-density lipoproteins. In addition, tartrazine-treated group showed drastic damage of the tissues of stomach, liver, kidney, and testis. Honey treatment increased antioxidants and high-density lipoproteins, and decreased lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme and kidney parameters. Honey treatment also improved stomach, liver, kidney, and testis tissues. In conclusion, honey protects male rats against tartrazine toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats in an experiment conducted for 8 weeks. Catalase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reduced, the low- and high-density lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme, and kidney parameters were measured to evaluate both the toxic effect of tartrazine in G2 and the protective potential of honey in G3.

Effects of inhibition of hepatic sulfotransferase activity on renal genotoxicity induced by lucidin-3-O-primeveroside.

Sulfotransferase 1A (SULT1A) expression is lower in the liver of humans than that of rodents. Therefore, species differences should be taken into consideration when assessing the risk of rodent hepatocarcinogens metabolically activated by SULT1A in humans. Although some renal carcinogens require SULT1A-mediated activation, it is unclear how SULT1A activity in the liver affects renal carcinogens. To explore the effects of SULT1A activity in the liver on genotoxicity induced by SULT1A-activated renal carcinogens, B6C3F1 mice or gpt delta mice of the same strain background were given lucidin-3-O-primeveroside (LuP), a hepatic and renal carcinogen of rodents, for 4 or 13 weeks, respectively, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) as a liver-specific SULT inhibitor, was given from 1 week before LuP treatment to the end of the experiment. A 4 week exposure of LuP induced lucidin-specific DNA adduct formation. The suppression of Sult1a expression was observed only in the liver but not in the kidneys of PCP-treated mice, but co-administration of PCP suppressed LuP-induced DNA adduct formation in both organs. Thirteen-week exposure of LuP increased mutation frequencies and cotreatment with PCP suppressed these increases in both organs. Given that intact levels of SULT activity in the liver were much higher than in the kidneys of rodents, SULT1A may predominantly activate LuP in the liver, consequently leading to genotoxicity not only in the liver but also in the kidney. Thus, species differences should be considered in human risk assessment of renal carcinogens activated by SULT1A as in the case of the corresponding liver carcinogens.

Influence of the long-term exposure to tartrazine and chlorophyll on the fibrogenic signalling pathway in liver and kidney of rats: the expression patterns of collagen 1-α, TGFß-1, fibronectin, and caspase-3 genes.

Colouring agents are highly present in diverse products in the human environment. We aimed to elucidate the fibrogenic cascade triggered by the food dyes tartrazine and chlorophyll. Rats were orally given distilled water, tenfold of the acceptable daily intake of tartrazine, or chlorophyll for 90 consecutive days. Tartrazine-treated rats displayed a significant rise (p < 0.05) in the mRNA levels and immunohistochemical localization of the renal and hepatic fibrotic markers collagen 1-α, TGFß-1, and fibronectin and the apoptotic marker caspase-3. Moreover, a significant increment (p < 0.05) in the levels of AST, ALP, creatinine, and urea was evident in both experimental groups but more significant differences were noticed in the tartrazine group. Furthermore, we found a marked increment in the MDA level and significant declines (p < 0.05) in the levels of the SOD, CAT, and GSH enzymes in the kidney and liver from tartrazine-treated rats. The histological investigation reinforced the aforementioned data, revealing hepatocytes with fibrous connective tissue proliferation, apoptotic hepatocytes and periportal fibrosis with tubular necrosis, and shrunken glomeruli and interstitial fibrous tissue proliferation. We concluded that, even at the exposure to high concentrations for long durations, chlorophyll exhibited a lower propensity to induce fibrosis, apoptosis, and histopathological perturbations than tartrazine.

Ameliorating efficacy of eugenol against metanil yellow induced toxicity in albino Wistar rats.

Metanil yellow, an azo dye, is a non-permitted synthetic food colour used extensively in India and other developing countries as food additive. Present communication reports the toxic effects of metanil yellow on hepatic and kidney tissues and its amelioration by eugenol, vitamin E and vitamin C. Oral administration of metanil yellow in albino Wistar rats for 28 days caused elevation in serum enzymes (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, gluatamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase), and total bilirubin along with decline in albumin and total protein levels. At tissue level, activities of oxidative stress markers viz., superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione in liver and kidney were reduced to about half while malondialdehyde level increased significantly under the influence of metanil yellow. Co-administration of eugenol/vitamin E/vitamin C in metanil yellow intoxicated rats exhibited considerable restoration of oxidative stress as well as hepatic and renal function markers in serum and tissues. The study revealed that eugenol has antioxidant, hepatoprotective and renoprotective activities.

Food Yellow4 reprotoxicity in relation to localization of DMC1 and apoptosis in rat testes: Roles of royal jelly and cod liver oil.

Food Yellow 4 (FY4) is a lemon-yellow-colored synthetic organic azo dye, which is used widely for imparting pleasant and attractive appearance to foods and cosmetics. The present study aimed at evaluating the possible mechanism underlying the FY4-induced reprotoxicity in rats, and the potential supportive role of royal jelly (RJ) or cod liver oil (CLO), which is a natural remedy with several pharmacological benefits, against induced toxicity. Forty-eight male rats were divided into different groups-the control group, the CLO group (0.4 mL/kg), the RJ group (300 mg/kg), the FY4 group (500 mg/kg b.w.), and the co-treated groups (FY4 + CLO or FY4 + RJ). Semen analysis, serum hormones, and enzyme activities were estimated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-PCNA, anti-Sox 9, anti-STRA8, anti-DMC1, and anti-ssDNA antibody. The FY4 group exhibited a significant decrease in sperm concentration and motility percentage (%) and a substantial reduction in the TES and LH levels. Testicular LDH, ACP, and SDH were observed to be inhibited. Furthermore, co-localization of DMC1 and ssDNA, which reflected apoptotic induction in the leptotene and zygotene spermatocytes, respectively, was observed to have markedly elevated in the FY4 treated rats, with fewer PCNA-positive and SOX9-positive cells and higher ssDNA-positive cells in the seminiferous epithelium in comparison to the control groups. Interestingly, co-treatment with CLO or RJ exhibited healthy sperms and restored their features, activated the enzyme production, and raised the levels of sexual hormones. In addition, both RJ and CLO restored the features of the testicular tissue as observed under a light microscope, and limited the apoptosis as observed through antibody staining. Collectively, the results of the present study revealed that the co-administration of RJ or CLO with FY4 improved the biochemical, hormonal, and structural aspects of the testicular tissue in rats. Therefore, CLO and RJ may be considered promising agents that would be able to improve the testicular structure and function in the FY4-exposed individuals.