Abstract

Iman, M. Mourad

Aspartame is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners in over 90 countries worldwide. It is a highly intensity sweetener added to a large variety of food, most commonly found in low calorie beverages, desserts and table top sweeteners added to tea or coffee. The present study examined whether the daily oral administration of ASP (40 mg/kg) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks induce oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of male albino rats. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione reduced (GSH) levels as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were determined. A significant increase in LPO levels was obtained in the liver tissue after 4 and 6 weeks of ASP administration while there was a significant decrease in LPO level after 2 weeks followed by a significant increase in the renal tissue at the end of the 6 weeks. SOD activity significantly decreased in the liver tissue after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. Also, there was a significant decrease in SOD activity after 2 and 4 weeks in the renal tissue. CAT activity significantly decreased in the liver tissue after 2 and 4 weeks of ASP administration. Regarding to GSH content, there was a significant decrease in the liver tissue after 2, 4 and 6 weeks which was accompanied by a significant increase in GST activity after 4 and 6 weeks of ASP administration. In conclusion, ASP may induce an oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of male albino rats.