Toxicity Profile for Beetroot red (1991)
Abstract
Beetroot extracts caused chromosome damage in human cells in culture, but not in rats treated orally. Beetroot red did not damage the chromosomes of hamster cells in culture, or cause mutagenicity or DNA damage in Escherichia coli bacteria. However, beetroot red was mutagenic in Ames bacterial tests in Salmonella typhimurium. In limited studies involving repeated oral administration of beetroot red to rats, there were effects on a liver enzyme activity. According to brief summary reports, lifetime treatment with betanin (the main colouring principle of beetroot red) in the drinking water did not increase the incidence of tumours or affect reproduction in rats.
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