Safety evaluation of certain food additives - ipcs inchem

ALKOXY-SUBSTITUTED ALLYLBENZENES 439
3.2.3 Non-relevance of neuroendocrine gastric tumours to humans
Rodents have high basal levels of blood gastrin and a high density of
neuroendocrine cells in the stomach glandular mucosa. With parietal cell injury and
reduced production of hydrochloric acid, gastrin levels rise markedly and stimulate
proliferation of responsive neuroendocrine cells. A variety of antisecretory drugs
produce neuroendocrine cell neoplasms in rodents, but similar responses do not
occur in humans.
3.2.4 Relevance of the toxicity data to the ingestion of spices
Data are needed to clarify whether the dose–response data in rodents for
single compounds are relevant to their presence in natural spices. Recent in vitro
data suggest that other components of natural spices might modulate the
bioactivation and/or detoxication of these substances, such that the toxicity data
relate to the use of these substances as flavouring agents but not to their presence
in natural spices.
3.2.5 Epidemiological studies on spice ingestion
Spices containing these substances have been ingested by humans for
millennia, without apparent harm. However, structured epidemiological research on
the possibility of an association between spice consumption and hepatic cancer in
humans is lacking.
4. EVALUATION
The Committee concluded that the data reviewed on the six alkoxysubstituted
allylbenzenes provide evidence of toxicity and carcinogenicity to rodents
given high doses for several of these substances. A mechanistic understanding of
these effects and their implications for human risk have yet to be fully explored and
will have a significant impact on the assessment of health risks from alkoxysubstituted
allylbenzenes at the concentrations at which they occur in food. Further
research is needed to assess the potential risk to human health from low-level
dietary exposure to alkoxy-substituted allylbenzenes present in foods and essential
oils and used as flavouring agents.
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