Effect of metanil yellow, orange II and their blend on hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in rats.

The effects of Metanil yellow, Orange II and their blend on hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes were compared. Parenteral administration of Metanil yellow and Orange II to rats at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight for 3 days caused a significant induction of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (40-190%), aniline hydroxylase (27-92%), aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (50-62%) and aminopyrine N-demethylase (42-49%) activities. Metanil yellow and Orange II brought about a substantial increase in cytosolic quinone reductase (34-82%) and glutathione S-transferase (23-43%) activities and significant depletion of glutathione levels with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxide formation. A blend (1:1) of Metanil yellow and Orange II showed a synergistic or additive effect on these hepatic parameters, suggesting that the addition of these two prohibited dyes together in foodstuffs may give rise to more toxic effects than are produced by each dye individually.