Nursena Demircigil - Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Mehmet Gul - Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Nurcan Gokturk - Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Elif Kayhan Kustepe - Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Turgut Ozal University, Malatya, Turkey
Harika Gozukara Bag - Department of Biostatistics, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
Mehmet Erdemli - Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey

Objective(s): The current study, the first of its kind in the literature, aimed to observe the toxic effects of Tartrazine, a commonly used dyestuff in industries and foods, on the liver, and investigate whether this toxicity could be eliminated with thymoquinone coadministration. Materials and Methods: ۳۲ male Wistar albino rats were procured from İnönü University Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center. The rats were randomly assigned to ۴ equal groups: Control group, Thymoquinone group, Tartrazine group, and Thymoquinone + Tartrazine group. Rat liver tissue and blood samples were obtained and biochemical and histopathological examinations were conducted on the samples.Results: Tartrazine administration increased the oxidant (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) and oxidative stress index parameters (total oxidant status) in the liver tissue and decreased the antioxidant parameters (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status) leading to histopathological problems (hematoxylin-eosin staining and Caspase-۳ immunoreactivity) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-۶) in the serum samples. Thymoquinone, on the other hand, improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion: At this time and dose, thymoquinone has a protective effect against tartrazine hepatotoxicity. Thymoquinone can be used as a protective agent against tartrazine toxicity. 

Hepatotoxicity, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Rat, Tartrazine, Thymoquinone