Risk Assessment of Food Coloring Agents on DNA Damage Using RAPD Markers

In this study, faba bean (Vicia faba) seedlings were used as bioindicator to determine genotoxic effect of synthetic dyes currently used as food color additives in many countries. Novel short-term assays are required to substantiate the battery of assessment methods for evaluating the genotoxicity of candidate substances. Therefore, an attempt has been made to evaluate randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis for its potential to establish genotoxic effect of colored food. For the preliminary assessment, this study compared the effects occurring at molecular levels in Vicia faba exposed to colored food at concentrations in the range of 0.2% to 18.2%. The qualitative modifications arising in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles as a measure of DNA effects were compared with control. Results suggested that treatments of the above test food samples reflect changes in RAPD profiles. Changes in RAPD patterns included variation in band intensity; loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands compared with control. These results indicated that DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigation tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker assay for the detection of genotoxic effects of food dyes. In conclusion, the measurement of parameters at molecular levels is valuable for investigating the specific effects of agents interacting with DNA. Ultimately, this methodology may allow the ecotoxicological examination of the link between molecular alterations and measurable adverse effects at higher levels of biological organization.