Evaluation of the Effect of Steviol on Chromosomal Damage using Micronucleus Test in Three Laboratory Animal Species
PUNYA TEMCHAROEN,D.V.M.,M.Sc.*, SIRIRAT KLONGPANICHPAK, M.Sc.***, THIRAYUDH GLINSUKON, Sc.D.*****, MUTCHALIN SUWANNATRAI, M.Sc.**, SUNTAREE APIBAL, M.Sc.****, CHAIV AT TOSKULKAO, D.V.M., Ph.D.***
Affiliation : * Department of Pathobiology, ** Graduate Program in Toxicology, *** Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, **** Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ***** Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Rangsit University, Pathumthani 12000, Thailand.
The chromosomal damage activity of steviol, a product of enzymatic alteration of stevioside, a natural non-caloric sweetener was reevaluated by using a bone marrow micro- nucleus test in both male and female hamsters, rats and mice. The micronucleus test is used widely as a rapid and efficient alternative in chromosome analysis for detecting in vivo cyto- genetic damage. Steviol at the dose of 4 g/kg body weight for hamsters and 8 g/kg body weight for rats and mice showed no effect on the frequencies of micronucleus formation in bone marrow erythrocytes of both male and female hamsters, rats and mice. Moreover, there was also no apparent change in the PCEs:NCEs (polychromatic erythrocytes:normochromatic erythrocytes) ratio of the male animals of all three treated species at 24, 30, 48 and 72 hour intervals. However, steviol at the given dose can cause significant reduction of PCEs to NCEs ratio of the female hamsters at 72 hours and female rats and mice at 48 and 72 hours after receiving steviol orally. From these results, it could be proposed that steviol at the given dose to the treated animals produced adverse metabolites and these metabolites could reach the bone marrow, the target organ for micronucleus test. These metabolites also exhibited a slightly cytotoxic effect but not clastogenic effect to the bone marrow erythrocytes.
Keywords : Steviol, Micronucleus Test, Chromosomal Damage
