Toxicological and biochemical effects of different beverages on human intestinal cells

The objective of the present study was to examine and compare the effects o f frequently consumed beverages on the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2, in terms of toxicity, growth, and differentiation. For this purpose, Caco-2 cells were incubated for 24 h in the presence of: a mineral water, fresh o range juice, packaged orange juice, a cola drink, an energy drink, black, c amomille, and green teas, and drip coffee. Toxicity was evaluated firstly b y measuring the lactate dehydrogenase leakage from the cells and secondly b y performing the MTT assay. Cell differentiation was determined by measurin g two brush border membrane enzyme activities. Growth rates of Caco-2 cells were evaluated by cell counting. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between the beverages in toxicity and cell prolifer ation. Cells exposed to fresh orange juice exhibited higher tetrazolium red uction rates in the MTT assay (121.3% of control). These cells also showed higher succinate cytochrome c reductase activities than the other samples, implying that the contents of fresh orange juice, such as ascorbic acid, st imulated mitochondrial metabolism. The alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptid ase N activities of the Caco-2 cells lay between 61.50 and 110.00%, indicat ing a partial influence of some beverages on Caco-2 differentiation. (C) 19 99 Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.