Food additives – carrageenans – in the context of changes in the functional characteristics of body cells

Background.Currently, varieties of food additives are used in industry, but there are many data in the literature on the safety of carrageenans.There is evidence that degraded carrageenans have a toxic effect on the body.Some authors [1] have proven that -carageenan, a mucopolysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of red algae (Chondrus crispus), can induce acute enterocolitis.-carrageenans were shown to stimulate the inflammatory process in the body, which contributes to an increase in the blood mar kers of acute inflammation.In another research [2], semi-refined carrageenan was used as a model for inducing acute enterocolitis in rats.Objective.Within the framework of the research project "Investigation of the toxicity and therapeutic activity of food additives of carrageenans (E407/ E307a) and their oligosaccharide fragments as modulators of programmed cell death", a comprehensive assessment of the effect of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on the body of rats by oral administration was carried out.Methods.The local effects of E407a on the intestine were analyzed using morphological methods.The content of inflammatory markers in the blood was determined: CRP, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin.The fluorescent probe O1O (2-(2'-OH-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole) was used to assess the state of leukocyte cell membranes.ROS ge nera tion in leukocytes and types of leukocyte cell death were determined by flow cytometry.Results.Oral administration of the food supplement E407a for 14 days caused changes in the morphological picture of the intestine, infiltration of the small intestinal lamina propria by macrophages (CD68+ cells).High levels of inflammatory