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 xe nobiotic metabolizing enzymes were compared. Parenteral administration of Metanil yellow and Orange II to rats at a dose of 80 mg/kg body we ight for 3 days caused a significant induction of ethoxyresorufin-O-de ethylase (40-190%), aniline hydroxylase (27-92%), aryl hydrocarbon hyd roxylase (50-62%) and aminopyrine N-demethylase (42-49%) activities. M etanil yellow and Orange II brought about a substantial increase in cy tosolic quinone reductase (34-82%) and glutathione S-transferase (23-4 3%) activities and significant depletion of glutathione levels with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxide formation. A blend (1:1) of Met anil yellow and Orange II showed a synergistic or additive effect on t hese hepatic parameters, suggesting that the addition of these two pro hibited dyes together in foodstuffs may give rise to more toxic effect s than are produced by each dye individually.