The Possible Protective Role of Pumpkin Seed Oil in Improving Tongue Mucosal Damage Induced by Artificial Sweeteners Aspartame (Histological study)

Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener commonly used in a variety of processed foods; accompanied by degenerative changes in different tissues. The present study designed to evaluate the possible protective role of pumpkin seed oil in improving tongue mucosal damage induced by artificial sweetener aspartame in albino rats histologically. Thirty adult male albino rats (180 -200 gm) divided randomly into three groups (n=10). Group I (Control): rats received 1 ml distilled water. Group II: rats received aspartame (250 mg/kg in distilled water) orally. Group III: rats received dose of aspartame as the group II, additionally topical application of pumpkin seed oil. After four weeks, rats were euthanized and tongues were dissected and cut longitudinally, for histological and ultrastructure microscopic examination. Histological examination revealed abnormalities in the morphology of tongue papillae at group II represented by hyperplasia (acanthosis), cellular pleomorphism, nuclear hyperchromatism, congested blood vessels, and brown positive immunoreaction of only some basal epithelial cells to Ki67. This confirmed by ultrastructure microscopic examination which revealed a disfigurement of tongue papillae. In contrast, minimal changes appeared at group III. Conclusion, aspartame induced marked morphological changes at the tongue's mucosa of albino rats. pumpkin seed oil has a protective role against these effects.