Fogliano Chiara, La Pietra Alessandra, Motta Chiara Maria, Mobilio Teresa, Capriello Teresa, Sasso Margherita, Avallone Bice, Ferrandino Ida
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy.
Toxics. 2025 May 28;13(6):447. doi: 10.3390/toxics13060447.
Food colourants are widely used additives classified as either synthetic or natural. In recent years, consumers have increasingly favoured natural options, considering them safer and potentially beneficial due to their nutritional properties. This study examined the effects of a natural food colourant, commercially known as Vegan Red (RVEG), on zebrafish embryonic development. Its impact was compared with cochineal red E120, of animal origin, and the synthetic dye E124, which are associated with hyperactivity in children and allergies. Shield stage embryos were exposed for 72 h and then examined using a multidisciplinary approach to assess the effects on conventional toxicity endpoints, such as survival, hatching rate, heart rate, genotoxicity, and behavioural interferences, including the impact on muscle ultrastructure. The results demonstrated that RVEG, as well as E120, do not affect hatching, heart rate, and motility parameters. However, RVEG moderately alters skeletal muscle organisation and, more relevant, the expression of the , and genes. Based on standard toxicity parameters, the findings indicated that RVEG is less toxic than E124 and E120, but that the alterations induced in gene expression and muscle anatomy raise safety concerns.
食用色素是广泛使用的添加剂，分为合成色素和天然色素。近年来，消费者越来越青睐天然色素，认为它们更安全，而且由于其营养特性可能有益健康。本研究考察了一种市售名为纯素红（RVEG）的天然食用色素对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响。将其影响与动物来源的胭脂红E120以及合成染料E124进行比较，后两者与儿童多动和过敏有关。在盾形期胚胎中暴露72小时，然后采用多学科方法进行检查，以评估对传统毒性终点的影响，如存活率、孵化率、心率、遗传毒性以及行为干扰，包括对肌肉超微结构的影响。结果表明，RVEG以及E120不会影响孵化、心率和运动参数。然而，RVEG会适度改变骨骼肌组织，更重要的是，会改变 、 和 基因的表达。基于标准毒性参数，研究结果表明RVEG的毒性低于E124和E120，但基因表达和肌肉解剖结构的改变引发了安全担忧。
