Genotoxicity assessment of food-flavoring chemicals used in Japan

Analysis of genotoxic effects of food preservatives sodium acetate (E262) and sodium sulfite (E221) in human lymphocytes

Food preservatives are a large class of food additives that generally prevent microbiological spoilage. Sodium acetate (SA) and sodium sulfite (SS) are food preservatives, and the aim of this study was to investigate their genotoxic and cytotoxic effects. The genotoxic effects of SA and SS were examined by chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronucleus (MN) assays in human lymphocytes in vitro. In addition, the effects of these two preservative additives on mitotic index (MI) and nuclear division index (NDI) were also investigated. SA and SS significantly induced CAs and MN frequencies and caused a decrease in MI especially at higher concentrations. Neither food preservative caused any change in the NDI. In the light of the data obtained, it was concluded that SA and SS may have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human lymphocytes, especially at high concentrations. Therefore, their use at lower concentrations, which may be safer, should be encouraged.

A 13-week subchronic toxicity study of linalool oxide in Crl:CD(SD) rats

Linalool oxide is frequently used as a flavoring agent, however, data on its toxicity is limited. In this study, we performed a 13-week subchronic toxicity study of linalool oxide (furanoid) in male and female Crl:CD(SD) rats. Doses of 0, 80, 250, and 800 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day were orally administered by gavage, using corn oil as the vehicle. Abnormal gait in both sexes and decreased locomotor activity in males were observed in the 800 mg/kg group. Reduced body weight gain was noted in both sexes at 800 mg/kg and at 250 mg/kg in males. In the 800 mg/kg group, serum biochemistry showed increased γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and decreased glucose in both sexes, increased total protein in males, and increased total cholesterol and phospholipids in females, suggesting that linalool oxide may have adverse effects on the liver. Increased relative and/or absolute liver weights, centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in both sexes, and periportal microvesicular fatty changes in females were observed in the 800 mg/kg group. Increased relative liver weights and decreased serum glucose levels were observed in the 250 mg/kg male and female groups, respectively. Increased serum magnesium levels and relative kidney weights were observed in both sexes in the 800 mg/kg group, suggesting possible adverse effects of linalool oxide. Although histopathology showed accumulation of hyaline droplets in the male kidneys, immunohistochemistry revealed α2u-globulin nephropathy, which was not considered toxicologically significant. These results indicate that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of linalool oxide was 80 mg/kg bw/day for both sexes.