Genotoxicity studies on a high-purity rebaudioside A preparation

Rebaudioside A (Reb A) is a steviol glycoside isolated from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. This non-nutritive, natural sweetener is reported to be 250–450 times sweeter than sucrose and has potential for wide use in the US diet, and is used in Japan and South America today. The safety of Reb A has been investigated in several recently published studies and information on genotoxicity is described herein. Reb A was investigated for its potential to induce genotoxicity in three in vitro and two in vivo assays (conducted according to OECD guidelines). Reb A was non-mutagenic in an Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, in a chromosomal aberration test using Chinese Hamster V79 cells and in a mouse lymphoma assay using L5178Y+/− cells, all studies were conducted at concentrations up to 5000 μg/ml, with and without metabolic activation. Also, Reb A was non-genotoxic in a bone marrow micronucleus test in mice at doses up 750 mg/kg bw and in an unscheduled DNA synthesis test in rats at 2000 mg/kg bw. These studies provide additional evidence that Reb A is not genotoxic at the doses tested and further support the generally recognized as safe determination of Reb A.