Clastogenic effects of food additive citric acid in human peripheral lymphocytes

Effect of citric acid on force decay of orthodontic elastomeric chains

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the effect of citric acid, as a weak acid commonly used in food industry, on elastomeric chain force decay.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this in vitro, experimental study, sixty elastomeric chains from two commercial brands of American Orthodontics and Ortho Technology (n = 30) were cut into five-piece segments. Elastomeric chains of each brand were randomly divided into two groups of control (artificial saliva) and citric acid. All elastomeric chains were incubated in artificial saliva at 37°C. Experimental samples were immersed in 10 mL of citric acid for 90 s daily and were then transferred back to the artificial saliva. The elastomeric chain force was measured at baseline (before the experiment), 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks using an electromechanical universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U-test at 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS

The elastomeric chain force gradually degraded over time. The difference in this respect was not significant at 2 and 3 weeks in any group (P > 0.05). On initiation of the experiment, the force in the citric acid group experienced a greater decay than that in the control group; the difference between the citric acid and control groups in both the brands was significant at all time points until the end of the 3^rd week (P < 0.05). The difference between the American Orthodontics and Ortho Technology brands in the control and citric acid groups was significant at all time points (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Elastomeric chains in both the citric acid and artificial saliva groups experienced force decay over time. Force decay was greater in the citric acid group. Thus, citric acid can effectively decrease the elastomeric chain force. The Ortho Technology chain force was higher than that of American Orthodontics in both the groups at all time points.

The potential toxicity of food-added sodium benzoate in mice is concentration-dependent

Sodium benzoate (NaB) is a versatile food preservative that has also found some applications in the treatment of medical disorders. However, till date, its possible widespread effects on the body are not well studied. We examined the likely effect of diet-added NaB on weight/food intake, haematological parameters, neurobehaviour, antioxidant status, lipid profile and anti-inflammatory/apoptotic markers in mice. Animals were assigned randomly into 4 groups of 10 mice each. Groups included normal control (fed rodent chow) and three groups fed NaB at 125 (0.0125%), 250 (0.025% and 500 (0.05%) mg/kg of feed added to diet, respectively, for eight weeks. Body weight and food intake were assessed. At the end of the experimental period animals were euthanized, blood was then taken for the assessment of haematological, biochemical and inflammatory/apoptotic markers. At the lowest concentration, NaB diet increased body weight and food intake. Decrease in haematological cell counts and total antioxidant capacity were observed, whereas serum malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity were increased across the three concentrations. Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 decreased, whereas caspase-3 levels showed no significant difference. Lipid profile and biochemical indices of kidney and liver function were also affected by NaB diet. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NaB may be harmful if regulations regarding its limit of consumption are mistakenly or deliberately ignored. Therefore, it is advisable that regulations on quantities to be added to food be enforced.

Sera and lungs metabonomics reveals key metabolites of resveratrol protecting against PAH in rats

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of high morbidity and mortality disease. Currently, the intrinsic metabolic alteration and potential mechanism of PAH are still not fully uncovered. Previously, we have found that polyphenol resveratrol (Rev) reversed the remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and decreased the number of mitochondria in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) (Lei Yu et al. (2017)). However, potential effects of Rev on the changed metabolic molecules derived from lung tissue and serum have no fully elucidated. Thus, we conducted a systematic elaboration through the metabonomics method. Various of metabolites in different pathways including amino acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), acetylcholine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis in male Wistar rats' sera and lung tissues were explored in three groups (normal group, PAH group, PAH and Rev treatment group). We found that leucine and isoleucine degradation, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were involved in the development of PAH. Hydroxyphenyllactic, isopalmitic acid and cytosine might be significant key metabolites. Further work in this area may inform personalized treatment approaches in clinical practice of PAH through elucidating pathophysiology mechanisms of experimental verification.

Impact of Deep Eutectic Solvents on Extraction of Polyphenols from Grape Seeds and Skin

In the past few years, research efforts have focused on plant exploitation for deriving some valuable compounds. Extraction has been usually performed using petrochemical and volatile organic solvents, but nowadays, increased recognition of environmental pollution has prompted the utilization of green solvents as alternatives. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to exploit deep eutectic solvents (DES) (choline chloride: citric acid and choline chloride: glucose) as solvents for extracting valuable phenolic antioxidants from grapes. Investigation was conducted on ten grape varieties, observing seeds and skin as different matrix. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric microassay. Antioxidant activity was investigated using four different tests and results were combined in a unique Antioxidant Composite Index (ACI) to reveal comprehensive information about this biological activity. Polyphenol compounds were identified and quantified with the aim of HPLC-diode array detector (DAD). Overall results support that DES (particularly choline chloride: citric acid) were comparable to conventional solvent, and in most cases even outperformed acidified aqueous ethanol (concerning extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity). Regardless of varietal distinctions, grape seeds have higher antioxidant capacity compared to grape skin, and such findings are according to their phenol compound concentrations.

Effects of the food additives sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium acetate, and citric acid on hemato-immunological pathological biomarkers in rats: Relation to PPAR-α, PPAR-γ and tnfα signaling pathway

The food additives sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), sodium acetate (SA), and citric acid (CA) were evaluated for their hemato-immunotoxic effects. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed into four groups and were orally administered water, SAPP (12.6 mg/kg), CA (180 mg/kg), or SA (13.5 mg /kg) daily for 90 days. Erythrogram and leukogram profiles were evaluated. The levels of lysozyme, nitric oxide, immunoglobulin, and phagocytic activity were measured. Histologic and immunohistochemical evaluations of splenic tissues were performed. Changes in the mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and γ (PPAR-α and PPAR-γ), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) genes were assessed. A significant leukopenic condition was observed with SAPP, while CA induced marked leukocytosis, and SA showed a lymphocytosis condition. Both the innate and humoral parameters were significantly depressed. Various pathological lesions were observed, including diffuse hyperplasia of the red pulp, depletion of the white pulp, and capsular and parenchymal fibrosis. A marked decrease in CD3 T-lymphocyte and CD20 B-lymphocyte immunolabeling in rats treated with SAPP and SA was evident. Marked downregulation of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ together with upregulation of TNF-α was recorded. These results indicate that high doses of SAPP, SA and CA exert hematotoxic and immunotoxic effects with long-term exposure.

Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of enniatin-A in vitro

Enniatin A (EN-A) is a Fusarium mycotoxin which is a common contaminant in grains and especially in maize and it causes serious loss of product. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effects using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cell line, and genotoxic effects of EN-A using chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), micronuclei (MN) and comet assays in human lymphocytes. The cells were treated with 0.07, 0.14, 0.29, 0.57, 1.15, 2.29, 4.59 and 9.17 μM concentrations of EN-A. It exhibited cytotoxic effects in HeLa cell lines especially when the concentrations were increased. The half-inhibitory value (IC₅₀) was determined as 1.15 μM concentration for 24 h and 0.57 μM concentration for 48 h. However, EN-A failed to affect the frequency of CAs, SCEs and MN in human lymphocytes. Only a slight increase was observed in the frequency of SCEs at 0.57 μM concentration over 48 h. The replication (RI) and nuclear division (NDI) indices were not affected. On the contrary, EN-A decreased the mitotic index (MI) significantly at all concentrations compared to the negative control and solvent control (except at 0.29 μM for 24 h, and except at 0.14, 0.29 and 0.57 μM for 48 h). Treatments over 2.29 μM showed toxic effects in human lymphocytes. EN-A significantly increased comet tail intensity (except at 0.07 and 0.57 μM) in isolated human lymphocytes. The results of this study demonstrate that EN-A has an obvious cytotoxic effect especially when the EN-A concentration was increased. In addition, EN-A could exhibit a mild genotoxic effect.

Boronic acid based imprinted electrochemical sensor for rutin recognition and detection

An electrochemical sensor based on boronic acid affinity and molecular imprinted polymer specific binding was developed for rutin dual-recognition and sensitive detection.

DNA damage in human germ cell exposed to the some food additives in vitro

The use of food additives has increased enormously in modern food technology but they have adverse effects in human healthy. The aim of this study was to investigate the DNA damage of some food additives such as citric acid (CA), benzoic acid (BA), brilliant blue (BB) and sunset yellow (SY) which were investigated in human male germ cells using comet assay. The sperm cells were incubated with different concentrations of these food additives (50, 100, 200 and 500 μg/mL) for 1 h at 32 °C. The results showed for CA, BA, BB and SY a dose dependent increase in tail DNA%, tail length and tail moment in human sperm when compared to control group. When control values were compared in the studied parameters in the treatment concentrations, SY was found to exhibit the highest level of DNA damage followed by BB > BA > CA. However, none of the food additives affected the tail DNA%, tail length and tail moment at 50 and 100 μg/mL. At 200 μg/mL of SY, the tail DNA% and tail length of sperm were 95.80 ± 0.28 and 42.56 ± 4.66, for BB the values were 95.06 ± 2.30 and 39.56 ± 3.78, whereas for BA the values were 89.05 ± 2.78 and 31.50 ± 0.71, for CA the values were 88.59 ± 6.45 and 13.59 ± 2.74, respectively. However, only the highest concentration of the used food additives significantly affected the studied parameters of sperm DNA. The present results indicate that SY and BB are more harmful than BA and CA to human sperm in vitro.

Effects of the food additive, citric acid, on kidney cells of mice

Citric acid is a food additive that is widely used in the food and drink industry. We investigated the effects of citric acid injection on mouse kidney. Forty healthy mice were divided into four groups of 10 including one control group and three citric acid-treated groups. Low dose, middle dose and high dose groups were given doses of 120, 240 and 480 mg/kg of citric acid, respectively. On day 7, kidney tissues were collected for histological, biochemical and molecular biological examination. We observed shrinkage of glomeruli, widened urinary spaces and capillary congestion, narrowing of the tubule lumen, edema and cytoplasmic vacuolated tubule cells, and appearance of pyknotic nuclei. The relation between histopathological changes and citric acid was dose dependent. Compared to the control, T-SOD and GSH-Px activities in the treated groups decreased with increasing doses of citric acid, NOS activity tended to increase, and H2O2 and MDA contents gradually decreased, but the differences between any treated group and the control were not statistically significant. The apoptosis assay showed a dose-dependent increase of caspase-3 activity after administering citrate that was statistically significant. DNA ladder formation occurred after treatment with any dose of citric acid. We concluded that administration of citric acid may cause renal toxicity in mice.

Protective role of catechin and quercetin in sodium benzoate-induced lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant system in human erythrocytes in vitro

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of catechin and quercetin in sodium benzoate- (SB-) induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes in vitro. For this, the effects of SB (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL), catechin (10 μM), and quercetin (10 μM) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST were studied. Significantly higher LPO and lower activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed with the increasing concentrations of SB. Catechin or quercetin protected the erythrocytes against SB-induced toxicity only at low concentrations of SB. The presence of catechin or quercetin at 10 μM have no effect on SB-induced toxicity at high concentrations of SB (50 and 100 μg/mL). In conclusion, SB may cause oxidative stress as food additive in human erythrocytes in vitro. So, it appears that our findings provide evidence for the protection of erythrocytes from SB that could be considered for further studies.

Study on injury effect of food additive citric acid on liver tissue in mice

To investigate the damaging effect and action mechanism of the food additive citric acid (CA) on mouse liver, 40 healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group (0.9 % saline), low CA dose (120 mg/kg), middle dose (240 mg/kg) and high dose groups (480 mg/kg). All experimental mice have received peritoneal injection of the corresponding reagent each week for 3 weeks. After 7 days since the third injection, morphological changes were observed by light microscope; activities of T-SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), caspase-3, and contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) in the liver were evaluated using the corresponding assay kits; DNA fragmentation was assayed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Microscopical detection showed a series of hispathological changes in mouse livers treated with CA, such as indiscriminate liver cell cord, blood clot in central veins, and lymphocyte infiltrating. Biochemical examination suggested the gradually but moderately reduced T-SOD activity and elevated H2O2 level with the increase of CA dose (P > 0.05), and the gradually reduced GSH-Px activity and increased MDA content depending on graded doses with a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the high dose group and the control group. According to cell apoptosis assays, caspase-3 activity were significantly higher in all treatment groups than in the control (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Contrasting to the control, characteristic DNA laddering was observed when injected with any of the three graded doses. It can be concluded that certain concentrations of CA cause oxidative damage of the liver by means of the decrease of antioxidative enzyme activities, thus resulting in MDA level elevation and DNA fragmentation inducing active caspase-3.

Teratogenic effects of long term consumption of potassium benzoate on eye development in BALB/c fetal mice

OBJECTIVE(S)

Potassium benzoate (PB) is used as a substitute preservative for sodium benzoate primarily in dietetic foods where the sodium content is minimized. There are few reports about the teratogenic effects of PB. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teratogenic effects of PB on eye development in balb/c mice fetuses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty female mice were divided to two experimental and one control groups (N=10/grp). Experimental groups I and II received daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 280 and 560 mg/kg of PB, respectively; while the control group received normal saline. Injections were done for 10 days before mating and from gestation days (GD) 6 through 15. Dams were Caesarean sectioned on GD 18. Eye development was externally examined. After measuring weight and crown-rump length of the fetuses, the tissue sections of the eyes were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Histopathologic and morphologic changes were recorded. The data was analyzed by ANOVA and Mann Whitney statistical tests using SPSS (version 15).

RESULTS

Fetuses with eye malformations observed in both experimental groups of I and II. The incidence of these malformations was significantly increased in fetuses of experimental group II as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Histopathological evaluations of the malformed eyes showed deformed lens, retinal folds with undeveloped layers associated with hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PB can induce teratogenic effects on the eye development of mice fetuses. Therefore, more concise studies are needed regarding its specific and general effects conducted.

Teratogenic effects of long term consumption of potassium benzoate on eye development in BALB/c fetal mice

OBJECTIVE(S)

Potassium benzoate (PB) is used as a substitute preservative for sodium benzoate primarily in dietetic foods where the sodium content is minimized. There are few reports about the teratogenic effects of PB. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teratogenic effects of PB on eye development in balb/c mice fetuses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty female mice were divided to two experimental and one control groups (N=10/grp). Experimental groups I and II received daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 280 and 560 mg/kg of PB, respectively; while the control group received normal saline. Injections were done for 10 days before mating and from gestation days (GD) 6 through 15. Dams were Caesarean sectioned on GD 18. Eye development was externally examined. After measuring weight and crown-rump length of the fetuses, the tissue sections of the eyes were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Histopathologic and morphologic changes were recorded. The data was analyzed by ANOVA and Mann Whitney statistical tests using SPSS (version 15).

RESULTS

Fetuses with eye malformations observed in both experimental groups of I and II. The incidence of these malformations was significantly increased in fetuses of experimental group II as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Histopathological evaluations of the malformed eyes showed deformed lens, retinal folds with undeveloped layers associated with hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PB can induce teratogenic effects on the eye development of mice fetuses. Therefore, more concise studies are needed regarding its specific and general effects conducted.

DNA damage in human lymphocytes exposed to four food additives in vitro

In vitro genotoxic effects of antioxidant additives, such as citric acid (CA) and phosphoric acid (PA) and their combination, as well as antimicrobial additives, such as benzoic acid (BA) and calcium propionate (CP), on human lymphocytes were determined using alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis. There was a significant increase in the DNA damage in human lymphocytes after 1 h of in vitro exposure to CA, PA, BA and CP (200, 25–200, 50–500, 50–1000 μg/mL, respectively). The combination of CA and PA significantly increased the mean tail intensity at all the concentrations used (25–200 μg/mL) and significantly increased the mean tail length mainly after higher concentrations (100 and 200 μg/mL). Data in this study showed that the concentrations of food additives used induce DNA damage and PA was the most genotoxic and CA was less genotoxic additives among them.

Genotoxicity of food preservative sodium sorbate in human lymphocytes in vitro

The genotoxic effects of antimicrobial food additive sodium sorbate (SS) was assessed by using chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and micronucleus (MN) in cultured human lymphocytes and comet assay in isolated human lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were treated with four concentrations (100, 200, 400 and 800 μg/ml) of SS as well as a negative (sterile distilled water) and a positive control (Mitomycin-C: MMC for cultured lymphocytes and H(2)O(2) for isolated lymphocytes). The result of this study indicated that SS increased the frequency of CAs at both 24 and 48 h period compared to control. When gaps were included, this increase was significant at 200, 400 and 800 μg/ml concentrations at 24 h and, at all concentrations at 48 h treatment time. When gaps were excluded, this increase was significant at only 800 μg/ml concentration at both 24 and 48 h treatments. In addition, SS increased SCEs/cell and MN frequency at 400 and 800 μg/ml concentrations at both 24 and 48 h compared to negative control. Furthermore, this additive caused DNA damage at all concentrations in isolated human lymphocytes after 1 h in vitro exposure. The present results show that SS is genotoxic to the human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro at the highest concentrations.

Evaluation of beauvericin genotoxicity with the chromosomal aberrations, sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleus assays

Beauvericin, a naturally occurring contaminants of food and feeds, has been implicated in several mycotoxicoses; however, there is little information on its genotoxicity. Therefore, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of beauvericin in in vitro cultures of human lymphocytes were investigated with chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs), micronuclei (MN) as well as mitotic, proliferative and nuclear division indices. Beauvericin caused a significant concentration-dependent increase in chromosomal aberrations, sister-chromatid exchanges and micronuclei. It also significantly decreased the mitotic index at the two highest concentrations. However, no significant change in the proliferative and nuclear division indices was found. The results indicated that BEA is genotoxic to human lymphocytes in vitro.

Toxic nuclear effects of the organophosphorus insecticide Dichlorvos (DDVP) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Organophosphorus insecticides are used worldwide in the control of agricultural, household and veterinary pests. Dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) is a commonly used organophosphorus insecticide. In this study, in order to elucidate the toxic nuclear effects of dichlorvos, freshly isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes were incubated with 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 100 microg/mL of dichlorvos. According to the results, dichlorvos induced micronuclei, decreased the mitotic and replication indexes. It is a genotoxic product causing chromosomal damage (an increase in micronucleus) and cell death (decrease in mitotic and replication indexes).