Do steviol glycosides affect the oxidative and genotoxicity parameters in BALB/c mice?

This study was performed with 40 (20 males, 20 females) BALB/c mice divided into 4 experimental groups and a control group, each consisting of 8 mice (4 males, 4 females). Experimental groups were administered 470, 620, 940, and 1880 mg/kg doses of steviol glycosides, orally, for 4 weeks. The total antioxidants and the oxidant status, paraoxonase-1 enzyme activity, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were analyzed from blood samples. The chromosomal aberrations and cell cycle activities were examined from bone marrow samples. Plasma lipid parameters were not affected by the dose of steviol glycosides, however, the total antioxidants, oxidant status, and paraoxonase-1 enzyme activity were found to be negatively correlated with the doses. A positive correlation was found between the total oxidant status and the dose (r = 0.65) and between the mitotic index and the dose (r = 0.74). The dose of steviol glycosides also increased the percentage of the abnormal cells and the CA/cell dose in a dependent manner (r = 0.74 and 0.76, respectively). The study findings concluded that steviol glycosides slightly increased the oxidative damage, cell cycle activity, and chromosomal aberration frequency. However, we did not evaluate the potential of steviol glycosides as genotoxic and mitogenic agents, and, therefore, further investigations are required. CAS number: 58543-16-1.