Industrial furan and its biological effects on the body systems

Abstract

Furan as a product of thermal processing is found in many foods and beverages. In vitro and in vivo genotoxicity was positive for furan, also when metabolic preconditions for the formation of Z‐2‐butene‐1,4dialdehyde (BDA), the reactive compound, was met. However, in major studies, high doses represented the genotoxic effect. Moreover, data on toxicity in different cells and organs are inconsistent. For preparing remarkable risk assessments in human, providing bioassay data is necessary. We aimed to review available evidences about furan and BDA. A vast number of studies have been published on toxicity of furan in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we present a comprehensive review on the current status of furan in inducing toxic effects in different body systems, and possible mechanisms involved in the negative effects of this compound. In this article, furan mitigation procedures in foods have been taken into account. Practical applications From industrial point, furan is repeatedly used as an intermediate chemical in the process of producing some compounds such as resins, lacquers, pesticides and drugs. Furthermore, it is common as a side‐product of high‐energy radiation and thermal processes in food production. The current study focused on the effects of furan on the body organs. Furthermore, furan mitigation procedures in foods have been addressed in the current study. Nearly all previous studies on the industrial furan demonstrated that it has adverse health effects on the organs of the body. In order to prove specific results, further studies regarding furan risk assessment is of great importance.

Oxidative Stress, Mutations and Chromosomal Aberrations Induced by In Vitro and In Vivo Exposure to Furan

“…In line with furan-induced free radical production [ 35 ] (here, we show that furan induces a marked dose-related DNA guanine oxidation (approximately a 6-fold increase over endogenous levels of DNA 8-oxodG) when mammalian cells are exposed in vitro. In our cells this phenomenon seems to be independent of conversion of furan to BDA as this last one is a poor inducer of oxidative DNA damage.…”

Chemical Contamination in Bread from Food Processing and Its Environmental Origin

“…In animal studies, HMF is potent to undergo biotransformation into the genotoxic and mutagenic metabolite, sulphoxymethylfurfural [ 65 , 66 ], while furfural may lead to hepatotoxicity [ 67 ]. It was already found before that furan is highly potent with regard to exerting carcinogenic and mutagenic effects in rats and mice, probably due to cis-butene-1,4-dial reactive metabolites, which originate from furan oxidation by cytochrome P450 and bind to proteins and nucleosides [ 68 , 69 , 70 ]. In 1995 the IARC classified furan, together with furfural in the Group 2B, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” [ 71 ].…”

Cytoarchitecture changes of the rat thyroid gland following Furan administration implemented Fas-apoptotic pathway with potential abrogating role of selenium

“…In manufacturing industry, furan is used in the production of organic-based compounds as lacquers, resins, insecticides, stabilizers, and some pharmaceuticals [6]. In addition, furan and its derivatives are used as flavoring agents in some foods and in tobacco products [7]. Human exposure to furan is unavoidable because of its widespread persistent and extensive commercial use.…”