Stevia urticifolia Thunb. is an underexploited herb possessing bioactive flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. The aim of this study was to examine the antiproliferative and toxicogenetic properties of the ethyl acetate extract from Stevia urticifolia aerial parts (EtAcSur) upon Artemia salina, erythrocytes, Allium cepa and sarcoma 180 cells and fibroblasts, as well as in vivo studies on mice to determine systemic, macroscopic, and behavioral alterations and bone marrow chromosomal damage. The assessment using A. salina larvae and mouse blood cells revealed LC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of 68.9 and 113.6 µg/ml, respectively. Root growth and mitosis were inhibited by EtAcSur, and chromosomal aberrations were detected only at 100 μg/ml. EtAcSur exhibited potent concentration-dependent viability reduction of S180 and L-929 cells and antioxidant capacity employing ABTS^• and DPPH^•. No previous in vivo studies were performed before with the EtAcSur. Signals of acute toxicity were not observed at 300 mg/kg. Physiological and toxicological investigations at 25 and 50 mg/mg/day i.p. for 8 days did not markedly change body or organ relative weights, nor patterns of spontaneous locomotor and exploratory activities. In contrast, clastogenic effects on bone marrow were found at 50 mg/mg/day. EtAcSur was found to (1) produce toxicity in microcrustaceans, (2) capacity as free radical scavenger, (3) antimitotic, cytotoxic and clastogenic activties upon vegetal and mammalian cells, and (4) lethality on both tumor and normal murine cells indistinctly. In vivo damage systemic effects were not remarkable and clinical signals of toxicity were not observed, suggesting the significant pharmacological potential of S. urticifolia for the development of antineoplastic agents. Abbreviations: ABTS: 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; EC₅₀: effective concentration 50%; EtAcSur: ethyl acetate extract from Stevia urticifolia aerial parts; Hb, hemoglobin; IC₅₀: inhibitory concentration 50%; LC₅₀,: lethal concentration 50%; MI: mitotic index; RBC, red blood cells; Trolox: 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid.

Flavoring additives are of great technological importance for the food industry. However, there is little information regarding the toxicological properties of these micro-ingredients, especially at the cellular level. The present study used meristematic root cells of Allium cepa L. to evaluate the toxicity of a liquid, aroma and flavor synthetic chocolate additive, manufactured and widely marketed throughout Brazil and exported to other countries in South America. The flavoring concentrations evaluated were 100.00; 50.00; 25.00; 1.00; 0.50 and 0.25 µL/L, where the highest concentration established was one-hundred times lower than that commercially suggested for use. The concentration 100 µL/L substantially reduced cell division of meristems within 24- and 48-hours exposure. Concentrations from 100.00 to 0.50 µL/L resulted in a significant number of prophases to the detriment of the other phases of cell division, indicating an aneugenic activity, and induced a significant number of cellular changes, with emphasis on micronuclei, nuclear buds and chromosomal breaks. Under the established analysis conditions, with the exception of concentration 0.25 µL/L, the flavoring of chocolate caused cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity to root meristems.