Some biochemical parameters of young male albino rats treated with ponceau 4 R and vitamin E.

The current study aimed to clarify hazardous effect of ponceau 4R as food colour on rats and the effect of vitamin E as an antioxidant to prevent its toxic effect. Fourty premature growing male albino rats were divided into four groups, the first served as control group, the second supplemented with vitamin E [150 mg/kg],the third treated with ponceau 4R[0.19 mg/kg] and fourth treated with ponceau 4R[0.19 mg/kg] and vitamin E [150 mg/kg]. Half of each group was treated for 3 m, the other half was treated for 6 months. Rats treated with ponceau 4R showed highly significant decrease [P<0.01] in serum total lipids, proteins, albumin levels and cholinesterase activity throughout the experimental period, while recorded a significant decrease [P<0.05] in glucose level till the end of the experiment and in globulin level and A/G ratio after 3 months of treatment only. On the other hand, significant increase was detected in total cholesterol level [P < .01] and AST activity [P < .05] after both periods of treatment, while ALT activity showed insignificant change. It seams from the presents study that vitamin E has protective effect against the side effect of ponceau 4R on rats