{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T08:25:31Z","timestamp":1786955131407,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"African Journals Online (AJOL)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Rwanda J Med Health Sci"],"abstract":"<jats:p>BackgroundFood additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium benzoate (SB), and Sunset Yellow (SY) are widely consumed and have been linked to adverse hepatic effects. However, the available evidence is largely derived from in vitro or single-additive studies, with limited comparative in vivo data integrating biochemical and histopathological outcomes under uniform experimental conditions.ObjectiveThis study compared the hepatotoxic effects of MSG, SB, and SY in a Wistar rat model to address gaps in controlled in vivo evidence on multiple food additives.MethodsSixteen healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups. The control group received a standard diet, while Groups II\u2013IV received MSG, SB, and SY respectively. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by measuring serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, together with histopathological examination of liver tissue.ResultsThe MSG and SB significantly increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared with controls (p &lt; 0.05), indicating hepatocellular and cholestatic injury. Sunset Yellow did not significantly alter ALT levels (p = 0.074) but showed mild histopathological changes.ConclusionBoth MSG and SB exhibited greater hepatotoxic effects than SY in Wistar rats. These findings highlight the need for routine safety re-evaluation of commonly consumed food additives, strengthened regulatory oversight, and further long-term studies to inform evidence-based public health policies.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2026;9(2):327-341<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4314\/rjmhs.v9i2.6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T07:56:08Z","timestamp":1786953368000},"page":"327-341","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Hepatotoxic Potentials of Food Additives on Liver Enzymes and Tissues of Wistar Rats"],"prefix":"10.4314","volume":"9","author":[{"family":"Ude Ugomma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Okorie Nnaemeka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki 480214, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Uzor Simon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Kalu Micheal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Okekpa Simon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Valentine Nyirahafashimana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mathematical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Mathematical Research Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Usanga Victor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Mmesomachi Uche","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Obi Ihuoma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki 480214, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Iyke-Ogbo Pauline","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Onwudiwe Victor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Onwe Doris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2895","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"container-title":["Rwanda Journal of Medicine and Health 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