TOXICITY OF SUNSET YELLOW FCF AND TARTRAZINE DYES ON DNA AND CELL CYCLE OF LIVER AND KIDNEYS OF THE CHICK EMBRYO: THE ALLEVIATIVE EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN

Recently, the use of synthetic food coloring agents were widely spread; and its potential toxic effects on human health were consequently increased. The present work aimed to assess the toxicity on DNA and cytotoxicity induced by in ovo administration of synthetic food coloring agents “sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine” with/without curcumin during the organogenesis phase of chick embryo at doses 1.575 mg/egg, 0.375 mg/egg, and 3.0 mg/kg eggs, respectively. The results showed that sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine increased in the level of DNA damage and the percentage of apoptosis. Also, there were a pronounced S phase arrest and a decrease in the number of cells in the G2/M of the cell cycle in the liver and kidneys of the chick embryo treated with sunset yellow FCF and tartrazine. On the other hand, co-administration of curcumin with the synthetic food coloring agents positively alleviated the changes in DNA and cell cycle distribution, as well as decreased the apoptosis.