Stevioside

Abstract

Stevioside is a natural sweetener extracted from leaves of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni. The literature about Stevia, the occurrence of its sweeteners, their biosynthetic pathway and toxicological aspects are discussed. Injection experiments or perfusion experiments of organs are considered as not relevant for the use of Stevia or stevioside as food, and therefore these studies are not included in this review. The metabolism of stevioside is discussed in relation with the possible formation of steviol. Different mutagenicity studies as well as studies on carcinogenicity are discussed. Acute and subacute toxicity studies revealed a very low toxicity of Stevia and stevioside. Fertility and teratogenicity studies are discussed as well as the effects on the bio-availability of other nutrients in the diet. The conclusion is that Stevia and stevioside are safe when used as a sweetener. It is suited for both diabetics, and PKU patients, as well as for obese persons intending to lose weight by avoiding sugar supplements in the diet. No allergic reactions to it seem to exist.

Gene transcription and steviol glycoside accumulation in Stevia rebaudiana under polyethylene glycol‐induced drought stress in greenhouse cultivation

“…In S. rebaudiana , UGTs trigger the downstream steps in the synthesis of steviol glycosides 1. The transcription of UGT85C2 and UGT76G1 genes showed a significant reduction in polyethylene glycol treatment which is supported by other reports 16, 27.…”

Physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of steviolbioside synthesized from stevioside and its application in fruit drinks and food

“…This feature is an advantage for steviolbioside 2 sweetener's utility in foods and beverages. Steviosides are commonly used as natural sweeteners in beverages and foods (Geuns 2003). Their main characteristics include their thermal stability up to 238°C, resistance to acid hydrolysis, they are not fermentable, and most importantly nontoxic.…”

“…Stevioside 1 is the prevalent sweetener, accounting for 3-12% (w/w) of dried leaves and 90% in total glycosides with a sweetening potential 300 times that of sucrose and is known to be noncaloric (Moussa et al 2003;Chatsudthipong and Muanprasat 2009). Minor components are present in this plant, including rebaudiosides (B, C, F), steviolbioside 2 and dulcoside A (1-2% in total) (Geuns 2003). Some evidence confirms that steviolbioside and rebaudioside B are not genuine constituents of S. rebaudiana but are rather formed by partial hydrolysis during the extraction process (Kim and Dubois 1991).…”

Occurrence, Biological Activities and Synthesis of Kaurane Diterpenes and their Glycosides

“…The economic importance of stevioside (78), derived from its great world-wide consumption, has motivated diverse work aiming to characterize and establish the safe levels of this kaurane glycoside and its metabolites in the human organism [106,107]. Although some work has failed to demonstrate carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic or toxic actions of stevioside (78), after oral administration to rats [108][109][110][111], at doses up to 1.2 % of the diet, and considering, therefore, a maximum ingestion recommendable of 7.94 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 for the human organism [112], others have demonstrated that steviol (24), an aglycone obtained from complete hydrolysis of stevioside, showed a high toxicity in pregnant females and embryos of hamsters, at doses of 0.75 and 1.00 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , administered from 6 th to 10 th day of gestation [112][113][114].…”