Sodium benzoate induces neurobehavioral deficits and brain oxido‐inflammatory stress in male Wistar rats: Ameliorative role of ascorbic acid

Abstract

Background: Sodium benzoate (SB) is a widely used food preservative. However, excessive intake of a high dose of SB poses a risk of neurotoxicity. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in fruits with reported neuroprotective properties. The present study investigated the neurobehavioral and biochemical alterations in SB-treated rats and the ameliorative effect of AA in rats.Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 7). Group 1 (vehicle, 10 ml/kg), Groups 2-4 rats SB (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg), Group 5 AA (100 mg/kg) and Group 6 (SB 600 mg/kg + AA 100 mg/kg). Treatment was daily administered for 28 days by oral route. Anxiogenic behavior, locomotor, and exploratory activities were evaluated in the open field monitored with a camera, and memory performance in Y-maze. Brain oxidative stress, inflammatory, apoptosis, and cholinergic markers were determined. The cortico-hippocampal tissues were examined histologically.Results: SB-treated rats showed significant anxiogenic-like behavior and impairment in locomotor, exploratory, and memory performance. This was reversed in SB (600 mg/kg)-treated rats coadministered with AA. SB-treated rats showed a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities, increase malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, caspase-3, and acetylcholinesterase activity in the striatum, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum. These biochemical changes were reversed in AA-treated rats. Reduced cortico-hippocampal neuronal cell count and the pyknotic index were found in SB-treated rats, which was also reversed in AA-treated rats. Conclusion:Conclusively, sodium-benzoate-induced neurobehavioral deficits and brain biochemical changes were ameliorated by ascorbic acid probably via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic mechanisms.

Biochemical Markers of the Hepatobiliary System Functional State in Blood Serum of Rats Under the Action of Sodium Benzoate and Ascorbic Acid

“…Однією з найпоширеніших хімічних речовин з антимікробними властивостями, яку часто використовують у харчовій промисловості, є бензоат натрію [1]. Це сіль бензойної кислоти, котру застосовують як консервант не лише у харчових продуктах, але й під час виробництва ліків, косметичних сумішей та шампуней [2]. Відповідно до офіційної публікації Всесвітньої організації охорони здоров'я (ВООЗ) [3] застосування бензоату натрію в харчовій промисловості обмежено до 0,1%, а допустима добова норма цього консерванта становить 5 мг/кг на добу.…”

Response to a Popular Preservative Following Exposure to Sunlight during Storage

“…Its strong solubility in water and good stability has led to its widespread use in a variety of food products, including margarine, sauce, marmalade, gelatin, liqueurs, beer, fruit juice, and soft drinks (Bruna et al, 2018). Asejeje et al, (2022) reported that SB is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 1991), with a 0.1% (1000 ppm) permissible limit level in food. Additionally, at dosages of 647-825 mg/kg of body weight per day, the International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) revealed no significant health effects in humans (Noorafshan et al, 2014).…”

Intensity of Lipid Peroxidation in the Microsomal Fraction of Rat Liver Under the Effects of Sodium Benzoate and Ascorbic Acid

“…У продукти харчування все частіше додають різноманітні хімічні речовини з антимікробними властивостями -консерванти, серед яких чільне місце займає бензойна кислота та її похідні (Piper et al, 2017). Сьогодні як консервант часто використовують бензоат натрію (натрієва сіль бензойної кислоти), який маркується як Е211 (Asejeje et al, 2022). В організмі бензоат натрію може окиснюватися та проявляти мутагенний, тератогенний, прооксидантний впливи (Oloye et al, 2022).…”