Ajanta Ghosh ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta - 700 073, IN

Abstract

In the recent time, most of the synthetic chemicals that are being used to colour food, drugs and cosmetics are aromatic compounds. Unfortunately many of them have been withdrawn from the market because of their effects. Amaranth, a very popular red coloured dye was reported to cause potential gonadotoxic and embryotoxic effect. It was further reported to produce deformities in the young, increase the number of still births, decrease fertility and reduce the survival of the young Erythrosine, another red coloured dye was found to cause learning disabilities as well as altered behaviour in children. Several other dyes were reported to produce sarcomas of the peritoneum and intestinal tract; increased incidence of several subclinical conditions.

Full Text

     

Ajanta Ghosh ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta - 700 073, IN

Abstract

Lac dye or Laccaic acid is a brilliantly red coloured dye obtained during the steps of commercial shellac preparation from crude lac. Lac itself is a hardened secretion of a tiny insect called Laccifer lacca or Coccus lacca, popularly known as lac insect.

Full Text