Aspartame, Chronic Kidney Insufficiency and Ocimum gratissimum Extract

Objective: The paired human kidneys are retroperitoneal organs responsible for the maintenance of the internal meliu of the human body. Chronic kidney disease is major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Nutrition and life style are two main factors in the aetiopathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. Aspartame is a non-nutritive sweetener commonly consumed worldwide. Ocimum gratissimum is a naturally growing plant with some medicinal benefits. This study investigated if oral administration of aspartame could induce renal insufficiency in rat and the plausible ameliorative role of O. gratissimum extract.

Methodology: Fifty animals allotted to four groups were used for the study. The control group (CN) had normal feed. The Aspartame group (Asp) had 250 mg/kg/day of aspartame for 28 days. The Aspartame low dose O. gratissimum extract group (ALO) had 250 mg/kg/day of aspartame for 28 days followed by once daily dose of the extract at 100 mg/kg for 28 days. For the Aspartame high dose O. gratissimum extract group (AHO); aspartame was administered at 250 mg/kg once daily for 28 days followed by another 28-day daily administration of the plant extract at 200mg/kg. Both aspartame and plant extract were administered orally. Periodically, blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses and kidneys harvested for histopathological examination.

Results: The biochemical parameters of renal insufficiency were significantly pronounced in the Asp group but not in the AHO. Oxidative stress was pronounced in the Asp and ALO but not in group AHO at day 57. Histopathological examination of the kidney obtained from the Aspartame group revealed destruction of glomeruli.

Chronic administration of aspartame in rat caused sustained renal insufficiency which was ameliorated by prolonged administration of high dose of Ocimum gratissimum extract. Thus O. gratissimum extract is beneficial to aspartame induced renal toxicity in a dose dependent manner.