Erythrosine DNA damage and mutation in liver cells
What it found
In lab tests on human liver cells, erythrosine damaged DNA at the two highest concentrations and caused mutations at six of seven concentrations tested.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
DNA damage in cells
In lab tests on HepG2 liver cells, erythrosine caused DNA damage at the two highest concentrations tested.
Mutations in cells
In the same lab tests, erythrosine caused mutations at six of the seven concentrations tested.
Type of damage
The authors suggest the damage came from an aneugenic process, meaning it affects how chromosomes separate, rather than from direct chromosome breakage.
Other findings
Why liver cells
HepG2 cells were chosen because they make phase I and phase II enzymes, which can mimic how the body processes substances.
What the authors conclude
“Although ErB is approved for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, it must be used carefully because it damages the DNA structure.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that although erythrosine is approved for use in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, it must be used carefully because it damages the DNA structure.
How it was done
The authors note that erythrosine is described as an enzyme inhibitor, toxic to the pituitary and to sperm production, but that its ability to damage DNA and cause mutations was inconclusive in the literature.
They treated HepG2 human liver cells with seven concentrations of erythrosine, from 0.1 to 70.0 μg mL(-1). They used the alkaline comet assay to look for DNA damage and the cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome assay to look for mutations.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on human liver cells, not studies in people. They can't show what happens when someone eats erythrosine in food.
- The cells were exposed directly to the dye, so the results don't account for how the body absorbs, breaks down or clears erythrosine.
The paper
- Title
- Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of erythrosine B, a xanthene food dye, on HepG2 cells
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Chequer FM, Venâncio VP, Bianchi ML, Antunes LM (2012). Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of erythrosine B, a xanthene food dye, on HepG2 cells. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2012.07.042PubMed 22847138DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error