Stevia rebaudiana ethanolic extract exerts better antioxidant properties and antiproliferative effects in tumour cells than its diterpene glycoside stevioside

Abstract

Steviol glycosides are currently being used as natural sweeteners by the food industry and Stevia rebaudiana has long been used as a sweet plant in South America for patients suffering from diabetes. In this study, a Stevia rebaudiana ethanolic extract (SREE) was prepared, analysed and tested for antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging properties and antiproliferative effects in cervix (HeLa), pancreatic (MiaPaCa-2) and colonic (HCT116) cancer cells. The antiproliferative mechanism was confirmed by testing the effects on cyclin D1-CDK4. Bioassays were also performed for the diterpene glycoside stevioside. Our results demonstrate that the extract acts as an antioxidant being able to scavenge free radicals, but this activity was not due to stevioside. The extract also induced cell death in the three cell lines, being more active against cervix cancer cells (HeLa); however, the concentration of stevioside needed to produce antiproliferative effects was higher than the amount of steviol glycosides found in a lower dose of extract inducing cell death. In addition, the extract clearly inhibited CDK4 whereas stevioside did not, concluding that the antiproliferative activity of stevia may be due to inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases performed by other compounds of the extract.

Stevia Eupatoria and Stevia Pilosa Extracts Inhibit the Proliferation and Migration of Prostate Cancer Cells

“…However, the resistance to therapy and risk of recurrence has led to the search for new effective anticancer compounds, including those from medicinal plants [9]. Stevia is a perennial herbaceous shrub that grows from the Southwest USA to Northern Argentina and is traditionally used as a medicinal plant [10]. Of all the Stevia species that exist, approximately 70 species are native to Mexico, and their anticancer activity has rarely been studied.…”

“…These effects are attributed to their compounds such as flavonoids, sterols, sesquiterpenes, and longipinenes, which possess important biological activities [12]. Some species of Stevia have demonstrated their effect on the antiproliferative activity in cervical, pancreatic, colon, breast, and glioma cancer cells [10,13,14]. However, the effects of Stevia pilosa and Stevia eupatoria on the proliferation and migration of cancer cells has not yet been evaluated.…”

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni bioactive effects: From in vivo to clinical trials towards future therapeutic approaches

“…Stevia extracts have been used for years for traditional crops for their health benefits (Gardana et al, ). Different medicinal applications, such as antiproliferative effects in different cancer cells (López, Pérez, Vinuesa, Zorzetto, & Abian, ), antidiabetic (Ritu & Nandini, ; Zeng et al, ), antimicrobial (Atteh et al, ), antihyperglycemic, and antifungal activities (Lemus‐Mondaca et al, ), have been studied. In addition, considering how sugar consumption has increased in recent years and the safety‐related problems of some nonnutritive and artificial sweeteners, the search for new natural sweeteners has increased.…”

“…Stevia extracts have been used for years for traditional crops for their health benefits (Gardana et al, 2010). Different medicinal applications, such as antiproliferative effects in different cancer cells (López, Pérez, Vinuesa, Zorzetto, & Abian, 2016), antidiabetic (Ritu & Nandini, 2016;Zeng et al, 2013), antimicrobial (Atteh et al, 2008), The content of a wide range of biologically active substances makes S. rebaudiana a valuable ingredient not only for food products but also for cosmetics and cosmeceuticals formulation.…”

Biotechnological approaches in Stevia rebaudiana and its Therapeutic Applications

“…Another compounds of scavenging free radicals in Stevia including ascorbic acid, glutathione, uric acid, tocopherols, carotenoids, polyphenols, and non-sweetest compositions. Based on data obtained from Lopez et al (2016) antioxidant activity of Stevia was not due to stevioside present also their results shown antiproliferative activity of Stevia [68].…”