Cellular Responses to Tartrazine and Sulfanilic Acid Exposure in BEAS-2B Cells: Viability, Apoptosis, and DNA Damage

Tartrazine is a synthetic azo dye widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products, resulting in extensive human exposure, while its toxicity and that of its primary metabolite, sulfanilic acid, remain controversial. Considering the reported association of tartrazine with hypersensitivity and allergic-like reactions, human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells, which are relevant for airway and allergy-related responses, were selected as the in vitro model. This study investigated the effects of tartrazine and sulfanilic acid on cell viability, apoptosis-related responses, and DNA damage. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT and neutral red uptake assays. Apoptotic responses were assessed by annexin V/propidium iodide staining, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, and caspase-3/7 activity measurement. DNA damage was examined using the alkaline comet assay. Tartrazine reduced cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in the MTT assay, whereas sulfanilic acid showed minimal cytotoxic effects. Both compounds increased apoptotic cell populations at selected concentrations. Tartrazine induced mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, while caspase-3/7 activity decreased at higher concentrations of both compounds. No significant DNA strand breaks were detected under the experimental conditions applied. These findings suggest that tartrazine and sulfanilic acid predominantly affect cell viability and apoptosis-related processes in airway epithelial cells without detectable DNA strand breaks at the tested concentrations.