Background: Tartrazine (TRZ) is one of the most frequently used coloring compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Extensive usage of tartrazine leads to multi-system disorders in rodents and humans. Argan oil (AO) has been shown to have antioxidant properties.
Aim of the Work: To evaluate the effect of TRZ on the adrenal cortex of adult male albino rat and the possible protective role of AO.
Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups equally. Group I (control group). Group II received AO at an oral dose of 5 ml/kg once daily for four weeks. Group III received TRZ at an oral dose of 300 mg/kg dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water once daily for four weeks. Group IV received TRZ in concomitant with AO in the same dose and manner as Groups II&III. Blood samples were taken to measure the serum hormonal levels of aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol and DHEA-S. The adrenal glands were processed for histological, immunohistochemical, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) study.
Results: Group III revealed disturbed architecture of the three adrenal cortical zones linked with deposition of collagen fibers in the capsule and in-between the cells in Masson's trichrome stained sections with intense positive immune reaction to cleaved caspase 3. Electron microscopic examination revealed indented irregular nuclei with perinuclear space dilation and swollen mitochondria. AO intake ameliorated the histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and morphometric results.
Conclusion: Co-administration of AO with TRZ alleviated the harmful effects of TRZ on the adrenal cortex.