Sudan III Azo Dye: Oxidative Stress with Possible Geno and Hepatotoxic Effects in Male Rats

Azo compounds were widely used in industry. Although they are not permitted in food, they had been found contaminating different foodstuffs. In the present study, the geno and hepatotoxic effects of Sudan III were estimated with relation to oxidative stress. Rats (n=18) were randomly divided into three groups each of 6. First group were left as control, the remaining two groups, were orally administrated either 125 mg/kg body weight of Sudan III (1/40 LD50), or 250 mg/kg body weight of Sudan III (1/20 LD50) for consecutive 45 days. Rats then sacrificed, blood and tissue samples were harvested. DNA was extracted then fragments were analyzed in the automatic multicapillary electrophoresis, the serum activity of GOT and GPT were measured. Moreover, serum Glu, Alb and TP were evaluated. Lipid profiles were assessed through measuring of Chol, Trig, HDL and LDL. Liver GSH, CAT, SOD and MDA concentrations were evaluated. Our results revealed that, oral administration of Sudan III for 45 days caused serum Glu, GOT and GPT activities to increase significantly (Pless than0.05) in low and high doses. The TP level was markedly decreased (Pless than0.05) in treated rats with low and high doses of Sudan III, while there was no significant differences in Alb for both doses between groups. Serum level of Chol, Trig, and LDL were significantly increased (Pless than0.05) in rats received low and high doses of Sudan III compared to that in control untreated rats, while HDL showed significant decreased (Pless than0.05) in both doses of Sudan III compared to that in control untreated rats. GSH, SOD and CAT were significantly (Pless than0.05) decreased in liver tissues of rats received low and high doses of Sudan III compared to that in control untreated rats, While MDA level was increased significantly (Pless than0.05) in liver tissue of rats received high Sudan III dose, beside oxidative DNA damage with appearance of new bands in both low and high doses of Sudan III. In conclusion, low and high doses of Sudan III dye triggered the hepatocellular damage and adversely altered the lipid and oxidative stress biomarkers in male rats after 45 days of oral administration with induction of genotoxicity.