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.
Methods
32 male Wistar albino rats were procured from İnönü University Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center. The rats were randomly assigned to 4 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-3 immunoreactivity) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) in the serum samples. Thymoquinone, on the other hand, improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.