Safety assessment of the natural azaphilone colorant from microbial sources: in vivo study

• Grant number: 22/02015-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: November 26, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Denise Grotto
• Grantee: Talita Cristina Mena Segato
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa, Extensão e Inovação. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06686-8 - Biotechnological process for the development of natural colorants from microbial sources for industrial application: phase II, AP.BIOEN.JP2
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/04896-0 - Safety assessment of the microbian natural colorant azafilone using C. elegans as an alternative model, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Humans generally relate the color of food to its quality and freshness, and for this reason colorants are so widely used in the food industry. The most commonly used colorants are synthetics due to their low cost and wide availability. However, the demand for healthier and more sustainable products has increased over the years, and therefore the production of colorants from microorganisms is a great alternative. Nonetheless, proof of its safety is necessary for the commercial use of new foods and ingredients, and thus this project aims to evaluate the safety of the new azaphilone colorant obtained from the microorganism Talaromyces amestolkiae, through an acute and chronic toxicological study. Male e female Wistar rats will be used, treated with the colorant via gavage with different doses, in acute (15 days) and chronic (100 days) experiments. At the end of the experiments, rats will be euthanized, and peripheral blood, liver and one of the kidneys will be collected from the animals. Subsequently, biochemical, hematological and histological analyses will be performed. Data will be expressed as mean ± standard deviation and they will be analyzed in the Statistica® 8.0 software. It is expected to prove, through this study, the safety of the new colorant azaphilone for commercialization and use in the food industry.