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, TGFβ-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.