Evaluation of the genotoxic effect of tartrazine using a metabolic activation system in human lymphocyte culture under cytokinetic block conditions

The expansion of the spectrum of use of food additives and, in particular, food dyes (FD), increases the risk of increasing human exposure to genotoxicants. Since in real life, not pure substances with proven genetic safety are in contact with a person, but complex mixtures of unknown composition, even minor impurities in which can become an additional source or modifier of genome instability effects. Of particular concern in this aspect are synthetic FD azo and diazo compounds which can be transformed by human intestinal microflora to some forms of genotoxicants. The purpose of the work is to evaluate the genotoxic effects of 0–2 mg/mL of Tartrazine FD (E102) purchased in a retail network in a micronucleus test on human blood cells cultured under cytokinetic block conditions in parallel in presence and without rat S9 hepatocyte metabolic activation system.

Genotoxic effects were found in cultures without metabolic activation at 0.0000256–0,00064 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL of tartrazine, and in the presence of S9 — at 0.0000256 mg/mL, 0,000128 mg/mL and 0.16 mg/mL of tartrazine. For the first time, a dose-dependent suppression of mitotic and proliferative activity of lymphocytes induced by the tested tartrazine sample was revealed, as well as a dose-dependent U-shaped curve in the frequency of apoptosis. The data obtained indicate the presence of genotoxic activity of the studied sample.

We discuss the necessity to create the system for evaluation the genotoxic safety of FD real mixtures from a retail network.