Nephrotoxic Effects of Stevioside and Steviol in Rat Renal Cortical Slices

Abstract

Nephrotoxic effects of stevioside and steviol on p-aminohippurate (PAH) accumulation in rat renal cortical tissue were demonstrated. Subcutaneous administration of stevioside (1.5 g/kg body weight) to rats for 9 h significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the ability of excised renal cortex slices to accumulate PAH in vitro by 63.4%. Stevioside had no effect on lipid peroxidation in the plasma and renal cortical slices at 9 h after administration. Addition of either stevioside (6.25–100 µM) or steviol (1.56–100 µM) to the incubation medium inhibited PAH accumulation in the rat renal cortical slices after a 30-min incubation. This inhibitory effect was dose dependent, and was at its maximum at 25 µM. Steviol was more potent than stevioside in inhibiting PAH uptake by renal cortical slices. Stevioside and steviol at a concentration of 100/*m had no effect on lipid peroxidation in rat renal cortical slices incubated for 30 min in vitro. These results suggest that the nephrotoxic effects induced by stevioside and steviol in rats are not related to lipid peroxidation. © 1994, SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN. All rights reserved.