Reduction of the Oxidative Stress Status Using Steviol Glycosides in a Fish Model (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract

Steviol glycosides are sweetening compounds from the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. This product is considered safe for human consumption and was approved as a food additive by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Its effects on the ecosystem have not been studied in depth; therefore, it is necessary to carry out ecotoxicological studies in organisms such as Cyprinus carpio. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity by SGs on diverse tissues in C. carpio using oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers. To test the antioxidant activity, carps were exposed to four systems: (1) SGs free 444 control,(2)CCl 0.5mL/kg,(3)SGs1g/L,and(4)CCl 0.5mL/kg+SGs1g/Lat96h.Thefollowingbiomarkerswereanalyzed: lipoperoxidation (LPX), hydroperoxide content (HPC), and protein carbonyl content (PCC), as well as antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). It was found that both (3 and 4) systems’ exposure decreases LPX, CHP, PCC, SOD,andCATwithrespecttotheCCl system.TheresultsofthisstudydemonstratethattheconcentrationsofSGsusedarenot capable of generating oxidative stress and, on the contrary, would appear to induce an antioxidant effect.