Tartrazine and prostaglandin-system.
Tartrazine, a dye largely employed for colouring foods, drinks, drugs and cosmetics, induces in some aspirin-sensitive subjects a bronchoconstriction similar to that caused by aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The interference of tartrazine on prostaglandin system of guinea pig lungs perfused with arachidonic acid has been studied. This compound is able to inhibit in the same manner the formation both of prostaglandins and of thromboxane A2 acting at the cyclooxygenase level as has already been demonstrated for aspirin and indomethacin. Preliminary experiments on aspirin asthmatic patients treated or not with tartrazine are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013645:Tartrazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001391:Azo Compounds; D011453:Prostaglandins; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D013645:Tartrazine; D007213:Indomethacin