Research Article

Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats

Volume: 52 Number: 3 September 16, 2025
EN TR

Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats

Abstract

Objective: Food colorants are known to induce physiological and biochemical changes in tissues, raising concerns about their potential health effects. The purpose of this study was to assess tartrazine's effects and curcumin supplementation on stomach tissue and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in rats. Methods: Thirty-five male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7 per group) and treated via oral gavage for three weeks: Group 1 consisted of a control group, Group 2 of low-dose tartrazine, Group 3 of high-dose tartrazine, Group 4 of low-dose tartrazine + curcumin, and Group 5 of high-dose tartrazine + curcumin. Serum CEA levels were measured and stomach tissues were subjected to histopathological examination. Results: Following tartrazine treatment, serum CEA levels were higher than in the control group; however, this difference was not of statistical significance (p > 0.05). CEA levels were somewhat lowered by co-administration of curcumin. When compared to the control, histopathological investigation showed that all tartrazine-treated groups had degenerated stomach tissues. Hyperkeratosis was notably increased in all experimental groups relative to the control group, with the most pronounced effect observed in Group 5 (p < 0.001). While hyperplasia in Group 2 did not differ significantly from the control (p > 0.05), Groups 3, 4, and 5 exhibited a statistically notable rise (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results show that tartrazine may induce dose-dependent histopathological alterations in stomach tissue, and curcumin may exert a modest protective effect.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

All groups included in the study were conducted in accordance with the NIH general guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and with ethical permission from the Dicle University Health Sciences Research and Application Center Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (25/09/2024, Decision no: 03, Meeting no: 12).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration, Medical Education, Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Metin Varlı * This is me
Türkiye

Güldidar Basmacı This is me
Türkiye

Musluh Hakseven This is me
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 16, 2025

Submission Date

January 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 10, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 52 Number: 3

APA
Varlı, M., Yavaş, M. C., Toktaş, İ., Basmacı, G., & Hakseven, M. (2025). Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats. Dicle Medical Journal, 52(3), 415-422. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1784750
AMA
1.Varlı M, Yavaş MC, Toktaş İ, Basmacı G, Hakseven M. Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats. Dicle Medical Journal. 2025;52(3):415-422. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1784750
Chicago
Varlı, Metin, Mehmet Cihan Yavaş, İzzettin Toktaş, Güldidar Basmacı, and Musluh Hakseven. 2025. “Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats”. Dicle Medical Journal 52 (3): 415-22. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1784750.
EndNote
Varlı M, Yavaş MC, Toktaş İ, Basmacı G, Hakseven M (September 1, 2025) Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats. Dicle Medical Journal 52 3 415–422.
IEEE
[1]M. Varlı, M. C. Yavaş, İ. Toktaş, G. Basmacı, and M. Hakseven, “Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats”, Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 415–422, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.5798/dicletip.1784750.
ISNAD
Varlı, Metin - Yavaş, Mehmet Cihan - Toktaş, İzzettin - Basmacı, Güldidar - Hakseven, Musluh. “Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats”. Dicle Medical Journal 52/3 (September 1, 2025): 415-422. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1784750.
JAMA
1.Varlı M, Yavaş MC, Toktaş İ, Basmacı G, Hakseven M. Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats. Dicle Medical Journal. 2025;52:415–422.
MLA
Varlı, Metin, et al. “Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats”. Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 52, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 415-22, doi:10.5798/dicletip.1784750.
Vancouver
1.Metin Varlı, Mehmet Cihan Yavaş, İzzettin Toktaş, Güldidar Basmacı, Musluh Hakseven. Effect of Tartrazine and Curcumin Intake on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Stomach Histopathology in Rats. Dicle Medical Journal. 2025 Sep. 1;52(3):415-22. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1784750

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