Cytological and morphological consequences of synthetic food colorants

Nowadays, everything can be marketed effortlessly when presented in an aesthetic way. This finds major application in the field of food, beverages, medicines etc. and food colorants plays a major role in it.The present study investigates the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of two frequently employed synthetic food colorants, lemon yellow and orange red, using Allium cepa assay. Uptake of food colorants by root cells at different concentrations and varied exposures significantly altered the cytogenetic system, root growth and cell division. The food colorants induced significant DNA damage, micronucleus formation and other severe chromosomal aberrations at genetic level and inhibited cell division as well as root growth. Severe DNA damage observed in the result is an indicative of apoptotic cell death. These results confirm the possible dose-dependent toxicity of these food colorants in plant systems. The chromosomes of plants and animals are morphologically similar and appear to respond towards mutagens in a similar way like mammals, indicating possible damage to the DNA of humans when these colorants are used indiscriminately.