Comparative Study of Some Natural and Artificial Food Coloring Agents on Depression, Anxiety and Anti-Social Behavior in Weanling Rats

Tartrazine (Tar) is a yellow colorant widely used in food products, drugs and cosmetics. The current study evaluates the effect of ingestion of Tar at doses of 1%, 3% of diet on depression, anxiety and antisocial behavior then comparing between its effect and the combined effect of each dose with curcumin (Cur) (natural yellow color). Forced swimming test, open field test and social interaction test were performed to assess the potential hazard of Tar and the anti-depression like effect of Cur in combined treatment. Furthermore, monoamines [dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT)] were estimated in three different brain areas (frontal cortex, Striatum and hippocampus) of weanling albino rats. Tar intake significantly promoted depression as expressed by prolonged immobilization during forced swimming test. Anxiogenic effect of Tar was evidently observed during open field test and impairment in social interaction test. Tar alone also inhibited neurotransmitters releases while combined treatment of Cur significantly attenuated all the behavioral and biochemical alterations in serum and different brain regions of Tar-treated weanling rats. This study provides evidences that a causal link truly exists between Tar and depression, anxiety and antisocial behavior while Cur possesses potent anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activities, these activities attenuate the potential hazards of Tar.