Protective Effect of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni on Cadmium-induced Nephrotoxicity in Male Albino Rats

It is important to understand the mechanism of cadmium (Cd) toxicity and its potential risk to the health of a population exposed  to  Cd  occupationally or environmentally. Kidneys inefficiently excrete Cd after prolonged intake and damage to the nephrons occurs, seriously affecting  kidney  functions.  Rats  treated  with  Stevia rebaudiana  leaf  extract could  withstand  Cd  administered  at  a  dosage  of  6  mg/kg  of  body  weight  for  30  days.  S. rebaudiana  is  a  non-calorific  natural  sweetener  considered  as  a  food supplement. It  has  been  widely  used  worldwide as a substitute for artificial sweeteners and is safe, unlike artificial sweeteners. The parameters analyzed from kidney samples were  total  proteins,  cholesterol,  GOT,  GPT,  acid  phosphatase, alkaline  phosphatase,  and  glutathione  reductase. Histological and biochemical observations were also made.