INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION



    TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
    FOOD COLOURS, EMULSIFIERS, STABILIZERS,
    ANTI-CAKING AGENTS AND CERTAIN
    OTHER SUBSTANCES



    FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 
    No. 46A WHO/FOOD ADD/70.36




    The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met in Rome,
    27 May - 4 June 19691





    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    World Health Organization



                   
    1 Thirteenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
    Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, in press;
    Wld Hlth Org. techn.  Rep. Ser., in press.


    TURMERIC

    Biological Data

    Biochemical aspects

    None available.

    Acute toxicity

    None available.

    Short-term studies

    Dog. Two dogs were fed for one year on a diet containing
    approximately 1 per cent. commercial turmeric. No adverse effects were
    noted compared with two controls (Truhaut, 1958).

    Long-term studies

    Rat. Groups of 20 male and 20 female rats were fed for 420 days on a
    diet containing 0.5 per cent. of commercial turmeric with a control
    group of 15 males and 15 females. The average life span of test
    animals was 16-1/2 months compared with 17 months of the controls.
    Growth, haematology or reproductive function were undisturbed as well
    as survival of the pups. Passive congestion of the liver was seen
    equally in test and control animals, No tumours were found. A
    follow-up of the first filial generation for their life span showed no
    abnormalities except for one benign tumour in a female rat (Truhaut,
    1958).

    Comments

    The material normally used for colouring purposes is known to be of
    variable composition and contains curcumin, a diphenolic compound. No
    information is available on the metabolism of this substance.
    Long-term studies are only available in the rat.

    EVALUATION

    Level causing no toxicological effect in the rat

    0.5 per cent. (= 5000 ppm) in the diet equivalent to 250 mg/kg
    body-weight per day.

    Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man

                                   mg/kg body-weight
    Temporary acceptance                             
                                      0 - 0.5

    Further work required by 1974

    Studies on the metabolism of curcumin and a two-year study in a
    non-rodent mammalian species on turmeric.

    REFERENCES

    Truhaut, R. (1958) C. R. on 18ème Congres de la F.I.P. Bruxelles, 8 -
    15 Sept. 1958
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       TURMERIC (JECFA Evaluation)