Wang C J, Hwang L S, Lin J K
Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B. 1984 Jul;8(3):246-53.
Crocin dyes, isolated from Gardenia jasminodes, did not affect hepatic function when they were orally administered to rats in a daily dose of 50 mg/kg for 8 days, but could induce acute hepatic discoloration. A high dosage of 100 mg/kg for 2 weeks could induce both hepatic damage and black pigmentation, but a lower dose of 100 mg/kg for 40 days did not. Rats fed on diet containing 1% of crocin dyes for four months were shown to have mild hepatic functional disorders and pigmentation. The black pigmentation of the liver and the acute hepatic damage associated with the discoloration were completely reversible. During the period of hepatic pigmentation caused by high dose of crocin dyes, the urine had abnormally increased porphyrin excretion and tended to display a blackish green color. The skin also appeared purplish black. The mechanism of black pigmentation seemed to correlate with the gradual accumulation of crocin dyes. In summary, the crocin dyes have a very low toxicity in rats even in high experimental dosage which would hardly happen in human practice. It is therefore suggested that the crocin dyes are safe for coloring foods.
从栀子中分离出的藏红花素染料，以50毫克/千克的日剂量给大鼠口服8天，对肝功能没有影响，但可引起急性肝脏变色。高剂量100毫克/千克持续2周可导致肝脏损伤和黑色素沉着，但低剂量100毫克/千克持续40天则不会。以含1%藏红花素染料的饲料喂养大鼠四个月，结果显示大鼠有轻度肝功能紊乱和色素沉着。肝脏的黑色素沉着以及与变色相关的急性肝损伤是完全可逆的。在高剂量藏红花素染料导致肝脏色素沉着期间，尿液中卟啉排泄异常增加，尿液呈墨绿偏黑的颜色。皮肤也呈紫黑色。黑色素沉着的机制似乎与藏红花素染料的逐渐积累有关。总之，即使在高实验剂量下，藏红花素染料对大鼠的毒性也很低，这种高剂量在人类实际应用中几乎不会出现。因此，建议藏红花素染料用于食品着色是安全的。
