ACUTE TOXICITY OF STEVIOSIDE, A NATURAL SWEETENER, AND ITS METABOLITE, STEVIOL, IN SEVERAL ANIMAL SPECIES

The acute toxicity of stevioside and steviol (a product of enzymatic h ydrolysis of stevioside) was investigated in three animal specifies in cluding rat, mouse and hamster. The susceptibility to stevioside and s teviol acute toxicity in both sexes of these animal species was compar ed. The animals were treated intragastrically with stevioside ro stevi ol and general signs and symptoms were observed. The numbers of dead a nimals were recorded within a period of 14 days after administration f or estimation of LD50. Stevioside at a dose as high as 15 g/kg BW was not lethal to either mice, rats or hamsters. Hamsters were found to be more susceptible to steviol than rats or mice. LD50 values of steviol in hamsters were 5.20 and 6.10 g/kg BW for males and females, respect ively. In rats and mice, LD50 values of steviol were higher than 15 g/ kg BW in both sexes. Histopathological examination in the kidney of ha msters induced by steviol revealed severe degeneration of the proximal tubular cells. These structural alterations were correlated with the increases in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. Therefore , the possible cause of death induced by steviol might be due to acute renal failure.