Effects of Azo Dye Adulterated Palm Oil on the Expression of Inflammatory, Functional, Antioxidant Markers and Body Weights in Albino Rats

Abstract

Food is important to life and the continuous exposure to food throughout an individual’s lifetime renders diet the most important environmental factor challenging the biological system. Only few studies exist for evaluations of the toxicological effects of adulterated palm oil on biochemical parameters. This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of the activity of inflammatory enzymes (TNF-α, MCP-1), antioxidant enzymes (GPx-1, CAT) and functional markers (EPO, ALB, CRIM) in liver, kidney and testicular tissues of albino Rats and to check for probable weight difference in treated animals before and after treatment. 25 albino rats were divided into 5 groups and treated as thus; group I (control), groups II and III (1 ml/kg of unadulterated and adulterated palm oil respectively), groups IV and V (50 mg/kg Sudan III and IV respectively) for 28 days. Gene expression levels were evaluated using reverse transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction protocols. The expression of inflammatory markers: Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and oxidative stress markers catalase: (CAT), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) were significantly up regulated (p < 0.05) in the liver, kidney and testes with the expression of functional markers: Albumin (ALB), erythropoietin (EPO), calcium responsive transcription factor (CRIM) significantly (p < 0.05) down regulated in groups III, IV and IV when compared to control groups. No weight gain was observed in treated animals before and after treatment. Ultimately, Sudan dyes are able to induce production of ROS which has been implicated in several disease conditions thus not safe for consumption.