Is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni a Non Cariogenic Sweetener? A Review

Phytocompounds hesperidin, rebaudioside a and rutin as drug leads for the treatment of tuberculosis targeting mycobacterial phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase

The main aim of this study is to address the global health crisis posed by tuberculosis (TB) through the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies targeting Mycobacterial phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase (MtPrsA), an untried enzyme involved in essential metabolic pathways of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This enzyme plays a crucial role in cell wall synthesis, nucleotide biosynthesis and amino acid synthesis in M tb. Any hindrance to these may affect the growth and survival of the organism. Phytochemicals were systematically screened for potential inhibitors to MtPrsA. Subsequently, based on molecular docking studies, three compounds, namely, hesperidin, rebaudiosideA and rutin were selected. The binding stabilities of these compounds were analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation. Based on the RMSD score obtained, the binding stability of the compounds was confirmed. To validate the findings, an enzyme inhibition assay was done using recombinant MtPrsA. Ligation Independent Cloning (LIC cloning) method was used to produce recombinant His-tagged MtPrsA, followed by purification using Histrap columns. Enzyme kinetic studies unveiled the distinct modes of inhibition exhibited by each compound towards MtPrsA. RebaudiosideA and rutin emerged as competitive inhibitors, while hesperidin showcased a mixed inhibition profile. In conclusion, the study contributes valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for TB, through the exploration of alternative enzyme targets and the identification of phytochemical inhibitors. Notably, todate, no effective plant compounds have been reported as inhibitors to MtPrsA.

Biological activity and structural modification of isosteviol over the past 15 years

Isosteviol is a tetracyclic diterpenoid obtained by hydrolysis of stevioside. Due to its unique molecular skeleton and extensive pharmacological activities, isosteviol has attracted more and more attention from researchers. This review summarized the structural modification, pharmacological activity and microbial transformation of isosteviol from 04/2008 to 10/2023. In addition, the research history, structural characterization, and pharmacokinetics of isosteviol were also briefly reviewed. This review aims to provide useful literature resources and inspirations for the exploration of diterpenoid drugs.

The protective effect of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana against tartrazine toxicity in male Wistar rat

Tartrazine is a yellow colouring agent that is commonly used in foods; however, high dosages of Tartrazine affect fertility and create oxidative stress by generating free radicals. A plant species known as Stevia rebaudiana has natural antioxidants that show promise for protecting testicular tissue. Consequently, this study was intended to examine the ameliorative effect of the aqueous extract of S. rebaudiana (Stevia) on the fertility of male Wistar rats induced by the daily oral intake of Tartrazine. Utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, phytochemical identification was accomplished for Stevia extract. Study groups were separated into several groups: the first group (the control) got distilled water for up to 56 days; the Stevia group (1000 mg/kg), the Tartrazine group (300 mg/kg) and the Stevia and Tartrazine group (the group was given Tartrazine after 1 h of Stevia extract intake). Also, the oxidative damage in testicular tissues was assessed by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione reductase [GSH]). Further, histological alterations were examined. In addition, cyclic AMP-responsive element modulator (Crem) gene expression levels and their relative proteins were measured in the testicular tissues using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Sperm analysis and testosterone concentration were also performed. SPSS version 25 was used for the analysis of results while (p < .05) was regarded as significant. Compared with the control group, the results demonstrated that Tartrazine caused a significant reduction (p < .05) in the testosterone hormone level (0.70 ± 0.21) and the Crem protein quantity (1.21 ± 0.23) in the treated Tartrazine group. Also, it had a significant decrease (p < .05) in sperm motility, viability, count and antioxidant levels. Moreover, there was a significant increase (p < .05) in sperm abnormalities, MDA level (7.40 ± 1.10), kidney and liver function parameters, and DNA degradation in the treated Tartrazine group compared with the control group. On the contrary, the Stevia extract intake enhanced the testosterone (2.50 ± 0.60), antioxidants and Crem protein levels (2.33 ± 0.10) with an improvement in sperm quality in the Stevia and Tartrazine-treated group compared with the Tartrazine group. Stevia also caused a significant decrease (p < .05) in the MDA level (3.20 ± 0.20), and sperm abnormalities with an enhancement of the liver and kidney function parameters in the Stevia and Tartrazine-treated group compared to the Tartrazine group. Stevia administration has a protective effect on the testicular tissues and sperm quality against toxicity induced by Tartrazine exposure, so it will be a good antioxidant drug to be administered daily before daily administration of Tartrazine.

The use of plant extracts and bacteriophages as an alternative therapy approach in combatting bacterial infections: the study of lytic phages and Stevia rebaudiana

Introduction

In the light of the problem of antibiotic resistance, the use of combined alternative therapies in combatting bacteria-related disorders has gained popularity. Bacteriophages are one element implemented in new combination therapy. Stevia rebaudiana is known to have antimicrobial activity and regarded as potentially having a synergistic effect with bacteriophages. Therefore, possible interactions of lytic bacteriophages (MS2, T4 and Phi6) with acetone and methanol S. rebaudiana extracts (SRa and SRm) in the bacterial environment were examined.

Material and Methods

The interactions were tested using a microdilution method, phage-extract co-incubation assay, static interaction (synography) and dynamic growth profile experiments in a bioreactor.

Results

The interactions of the tested factors in a static environment differed from those in a dynamic environment. Dynamic conditions altered the effect of the extracts in a concentration-dependent manner. How different the effect of the SRa extract was to that of the SRm extract on bacterial growth in a dynamic environment depended on the species of the phage and bacterial host. The greatest differences were observed for E. coli strains and their phages, whereas Pseudomonas syringae and the Phi6 phage reacted very similarly to both extracts. Differences also emerged for the same extract in different E. coli strains and their phages.

Conclusion

Every extract type should be tested on a case-by-case basis and experiment outcomes should not be generalised before gathering data. Moreover, many varied experiments should be performed, especially when examining such multifactorial mixtures. The tested mixtures could potentially be used in multidrug-resistant bacterial infection treatments.

The Finally Rewarding Search for A Cytotoxic Isosteviol Derivative

Acid hydrolysis of stevioside resulted in a 63% yield of isosteviol (1), which served as a starting material for the preparation of numerous amides. These compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity, employing a panel of human tumor cell lines, and almost all amides were found to be non-cytotoxic. Only the combination of isosteviol, a (homo)-piperazinyl spacer and rhodamine B or rhodamine 101 unit proved to be particularly suitable. These spacered rhodamine conjugates exhibited cytotoxic activity in the sub-micromolar concentration range. In this regard, the homopiperazinyl-spacered derivatives were found to be better than those compounds with piperazinyl spacers, and rhodamine 101 conjugates were more cytotoxic than rhodamine B hybrids.

Sweeteners in food samples: An update on pretreatment and analysis techniques since 2015

Sweeteners play an irreplaceable role in daily life and have been found in multitudinous food products. However, excessive or unreasonable intake of sweeteners as food additives brings about untoward problems due to the accumulation in the human body. Therefore, a comprehensive review of different sweeteners' pretreatment and determination methods is urgently needed. In this review, we comprehensively reviewed the progress of different pretreatment and detection methods for sweeteners in various food, focusing on the latest development since 2015. Current state-of-the-art technologies, such as headspace single-drop microextraction, ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction, solid-phase microextraction, two-dimensional liquid chromatography, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, are thoroughly discussed. The advantages, disadvantages, critical comments, and future perspectives are also proposed. This review is expected to provide rewarding insights into the future development and broad application of pretreatment and detection methods for sweeteners in different food samples.

Intra-gastrically administration of Stevia and particularly Nano-Stevia reversed the hyperglycemia, anxiety, and memory impairment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Type II diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders considered chronic hyperglycemia resulting from deficits in insulin secretion or insulin function. This disease usually links with various psychological problems such as anxiety and cognitive dysfunctions. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a natural and healthy substitute sweetener for sugar and artificial sweeteners. It has become essential for human diets and food manufacturers. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of Stevia and Nano-stevia on the regulation of anxiety and memory processes in male diabetic rats. The elevated plus-maze (EPM) test-retest procedure was used to assess anxiety and memory in male diabetic rats. The findings exhibited that induction of diabetes caused a distorted cellular arrangement in the liver tissue of male rats. On the other hand, intra-gastrically administration of Stevia (1 ml/kg) and nano-Stevia (1 ml/kg) indicated a normal appearance in the liver tissue of male diabetic rats. Moreover, induction of diabetes caused the augmentation of blood glucose, reduction in time spent in%open-arm time (%OAT) on the test day, and enhancement of%OAT on the retest day. Therefore, induction of diabetes in rats produced hyperglycemia, anxiogenic effect, and memory impairment and these responses were reversed by drug treatment. Furthermore, intra-gastrically application of Stevia (1 ml/kg) and nano-Stevia (1 ml/kg) reversed the hyperglycemia, anxiogenic effect, and memory impairment in male diabetic rats. Interestingly, Nano-Stevia exhibited the highest significant response rather than Stevia. In conclusion, the results of this research suggested the beneficial properties of Stevia and particularly Nano-Stevia on inducing anti-diabetic effects, anxiolytic behavior, as well as memory improvement in male diabetic rats.

Synergistic inhibitory activity of Glycyrrhizae Radix and Rubi Fructus extracts on biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus mutans is a bacterium that causes oral diseases. Plaque, a biofilm produced by S. mutans and other bacteria, makes it difficult to remove cariogenic oral microorganisms, including biofilm producers. Glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferase is one of the mechanisms underlying plaque formation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of inhibiting biofilm formation by interfering with the glucosyltransferase activity of S. mutans using edible herbal medicines.

METHODS

This study investigated the inhibitory activity of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract, Rubi Fructus extract, glycyrrhizin from Glycyrrhizae Radix, and ellagic acid from Rubi Fructus against glucosyltransferase activity of S. mutans. Enzyme kinetic analysis identified the mechanism by which glycyrrhizin and ellagic acid inhibit enzyme activity.

RESULTS

The conditions for synergistically inhibiting biofilm formation by combining Glycyrrhizae Radix and Rubi Fructus extracts were identified. Biofilm formation was also synergistically inhibited by mixing their respective active constituents, glycyrrhizin and ellagic acid. Glycyrrhizin and ellagic acid inhibited glucosyltransferase via noncompetitive and uncompetitive mechanisms, respectively, indicating that they inhibit it via distinct mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents an effective oral hygiene method using the synergistic activity of two natural plant extracts to inhibit biofilm formation through different inhibitory mechanisms against glucosyltransferase of S. mutans.

Inhibitory effects of Stevioside on Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans dual-species biofilm

Introduction

Streptococcus mutans is the most prevalent biofilm-forming pathogen in dental caries, while Candida albicans is often detected in the presence of S. mutans.

Methods

We aimed to evaluate the anti-caries effect of stevioside in medium trypticase soy broth (TSB) with or without sucrose supplementation compared with the same sweetness sucrose and xylitol in a dual-species model of S. mutans and C. albicans, based on planktonic growth, crystal violet assay, acid production, biofilm structural imaging, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and RNA sequencing.

Results

Our results showed that compared with sucrose, stevioside significantly inhibited planktonic growth and acid production, changed the structure of the mixed biofilm, and reduced the viability of biofilm and the production of extracellular polysaccharides in dual-species biofilm. Through RNA-seq, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway impact analysis showed that stevioside decreased sucrose metabolism and increased galactose and intracellular polysaccharide metabolism in S. mutans, and decreased genes related to GPI-modified proteins and secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAP) family in C. albicans. In contrast to xylitol, stevioside also inhibited the transformation of fungal morphology of C. albicans, which did not form mycelia and thus had reduced pathogenicity. Stevioside revealed a superior suppression of dual-species biofilm formation compared to sucrose and a similar anti-caries effect with xylitol. However, sucrose supplementation diminished the suppression of stevioside on S. mutans and C. albicans.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to confirm that stevioside has anticariogenic effects on S. mutans and C. albicans in a dual-species biofilm. As a substitute for sucrose, it may help reduce the risk of developing dental caries.

COVID-19 Related Information on Pediatric Dental Care including the Use of Teledentistry: A Narrative Review

In addition to the direct impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the COVID-19 pandemic reports multiple effects on people's health and psycho-physical well-being. In the dental field, oral hygiene sessions, regular dental check-ups, and aerosol-generating procedures were commonly postponed, thus resulting in repercussions on oral health also favored by the changing eating and oral hygiene habits during the multiple lockdowns. Furthermore, dental settings and practices were generally perceived as at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, thus unsafe, and by general and pediatric dentists themselves. Last, the consequences of stress related to deprivation of social life and playful activities should not be underestimated in children, exposing them to the deleterious effects of bad oral habits, with repercussions on the balanced growth and development of the stomatognathic system. The present work intends to analyze the medium-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on pediatric oral and dental care provision, reviewing pediatric dentistry practice and oral and dental needs of pedodontics patients during the first peak and the various waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lessons learned.

An interdisciplinary approach towards sustainable and higher steviol glycoside production from in vitro cultures of Stevia rebaudiana

Stevia rebaudiana is one of the vastly acclaimed commercial plant in the world and belongs to Asteraceae family. The exclusive advantage of Stevia over artificial sweeteners is impeccable and targets its potentiality to the presence of diterpene glycosides. Moreover, the flaunting sweetness of steviol glycosides with associated medicinal benefits, turns the plant to be one of the most economic assets, globally. As compared to vegetative propagation through stem-cuttings, plant tissue culture is the most suitable approach in obtaining true-to-type plants of superior quality. During last few decades, significant in vitro propagation methods have been developed and still the research is ongoing. The present review discusses the tissue culture perspectives of S. rebaudiana, primarily focusing on the mineral nutrition, growth regulators and other accessory factors, motioning the optimum growth and development of the plant. Another crucial aspect is the generation of sweeter varieties in order to reduce the bitter-off taste, which is noticed after the consumption of the leaves. The in vitro cultures pose an efficient alternative system for production of steviol glycosides, with higher rebaudioside(s) content. Moreover, the review also covers the recent approaches pertaining to scale-up studies and genome editing perspectives.

Research progress on extraction technology and biomedical function of natural sugar substitutes

Improved human material living standards have resulted in a continuous increase in the rate of obesity caused by excessive sugar intake. Consequently, the number of diabetic patients has skyrocketed, not only resulting in a global health problem but also causing huge medical pressure on the government. Limiting sugar intake is a serious problem in many countries worldwide. To this end, the market for sugar substitute products, such as artificial sweeteners and natural sugar substitutes (NSS), has begun to rapidly grow. In contrast to controversial artificial sweeteners, NSS, which are linked to health concepts, have received particular attention. This review focuses on the extraction technology and biomedical function of NSS, with a view of generating insights to improve extraction for its large-scale application. Further, we highlight research progress in the use of NSS as food for special medical purpose (FSMP) for patients.

A novel self-nanomicellizing system of empagliflozin for oral treatment of acute pancreatitis: An experimental study

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe inflammatory disorder hampered by a lack of effective drugs in its clinical practice. Empagliflozin (EMP) exhibits potential effects against AP but is limited by poor water-solubility and low bioavailability. Herein, a novel self-nanomicellizing formulation of EMP with phytochemical rebaudioside A (RA) as the nanocarrier (RA-EMP) was fabricated to address these issues. RA-EMP powder could be simply prepared and exhibited excellent storage stability, dramatically improved EMP's apparent solubility, and instantly self-assembled into micelles with high EMP encapsulation efficiency in water. In vivo experimental studies showed that RA-EMP exhibited significantly enhanced oral bioavailability of EMP and dramatically improved therapeutic efficacy against AP. The mechanisms through suppressing the effects of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines were involved in this therapeutic effect. The results demonstrated that RA-EMP could serve as a promising way to enhance the oral bioavailability and strengthen the potential therapeutic efficacy of EMP against AP.

Efficacy of Bio-fertilizer and Chemical Fertilization on Flavonoids Distribution in Different Plant Parts of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni.)

This study aims to investigate the effect of the biological and chemical fertilizers on the content of the flavonoid compounds distributed within the different plant parts (leaves, stems, branches, and roots) of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni.) grown in Iraq. The results showed that the treatments of the biological fertilizers, including Mycorrhiza (C2) achieved the highest content of the most flavonoids in different parts of the plant. The treatment C2 recorded a rise of the flavonoid compounds Naringin, Naringenin and Luteolin 7-glucose in the leaves, Naringin, Rutin, and Acacetin7-neorutinoside in the stems and branches, and Apiening6-rhamnose8- glucose, Apigenin7-o neohespiroside, Kampferol3-7dirmmoside, Quercetrin, Narengenin, Acacetin7-neorutinoside, Kampferol, and Luteolin 7-glucose in the roots. On the other hand, treatment C1 recorded the highest content of Quercetin in the leaves, Quercetrin3-O glucose in the stems and branches, and Quercetrin3-O glucose, Naringenin, and Acacetin7-neorutinoside in the leaves . Keywords. Flavonoid, Stevia, Mycorrhiza and chemical Fertilization

Effect of sweetener containing Stevia on the development of dental caries in enamel and dentin under a microcosm biofilm model

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the effect of commercial and pure sweetener containing stevia to that of aspartame, to sucrose and xylitol on the development of dental caries.

METHODS

228 bovine enamel and root dentin were exposed to microcosm biofilm model using human saliva. From the 2^nd to the 5^th day, the samples were exposed daily to McBain saliva supplemented with 0.2% of the respective sweeteners/sugar, under 5% CO₂ and 37 °C. The lactic acid and the colony-forming units (CFU) were quantified. The demineralization was analyzed by TMR. The data were compared statistically (Kruskal-Wallis/ Dunn, p<0.05).

RESULTS

Pure stevia, pure aspartame, xylitol and control were able to significantly reduce 92% of lactate production compared to sucrose. Stevia finn, aspartame finn and sucrose showed similar production of lactic acid (around 0.45±0.12 g/L and 0.67±0.18 g/L, for enamel and dentin, p<0.0001). With respect to total lactobacilli and S. mutans/S. sobrinus CFU, xylitol and control did not show growth on enamel, while CFU numbers were found in stevia finn, aspartame finn and sucrose groups for both tissues. Enamel and dentin demineralization was significantly reduced for xylitol, control, pure stevia and pure aspartame (85% and 83% reduction, respectively) compared to stevia finn, aspartame finn and sucrose, which in turn did not differ from each other (sucrose ΔZ: 2913.7 ± 646.7 vol%.µm for enamel and 3543.3 ± 432.5 vol%.µm for dentin).

CONCLUSIONS

Commercial sweeteners containing stevia and aspartame proved to be as cariogenic as sucrose, which may be due to the other components, since the pure forms were not cariogenic.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our study showed that some commercial sweeteners (aspartame and stevia) are as cariogenic as sucrose, which may be due to the presence of lactose. The population should be advice about the presence of lactose in such brand names, to avoid their consume.

Awareness and Knowledge about Sugar Substitutes among Population in Riyadh Region

Background:

The food we consume will have sugar in one or the other form, which is not ideal for our teeth. This can be replaced by the use of sugar substitutes available in the market. Sugar substitutes have beneficial and adverse effects on health. In spite of their beneficial effects, long-term use of sugar substitutes is not recommended because of their health-related complications. Therefore, before consuming any sugar substitutes, everyone needs to know about both health benefits and their health hazards; hence, the present study was designed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and utilization of sugar substitutes among the general population in Riyadh Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:

The aim is to assess the awareness and knowledge about sugar substitutes.

Methodology:

Questionnaire consisting of demographic details, awareness, and knowledge about sugar substitutes were sent through social media and it was in the Arabic and English Language. After completing the questionnaire, participants are requested to send the link to their friends and relatives.

Results:

About 60.20% of participants were aware of sugar substitutes. Statistically significant difference was observed for gender and awareness of sugar substitutes (P < 0.05). About 31.5% of the participants are of the view that sugar substitutes have got side effects. About 61.9% of participants are of the view that Sugar substitute reduces the chance of occurrence of dental caries.

Conclusions:

Overall, 60.2% of study participants were aware of sugar substitutes, but the controversy on most of the artificial sweeteners cannot be ignored. Hence, the safety of these sweeteners is of prime importance for scientists. Any usage of sugar substitutes should be weighed against the adverse effects.

Metabolic engineering for the synthesis of steviol glycosides: current status and future prospects

With the pursuit of natural non-calorie sweeteners, steviol glycosides (SGs) have become one of the most popular natural sweeteners in the market. The SGs in Stevia are a mixture of SGs synthesized from steviol (a terpenoid). SGs are diterpenoids. Different SGs depend on the number and position of sugar groups on the core steviol backbone. This diversity comes from the processing of glycoside steviol by various glycosyltransferases. Due to the differences in glycosylation, each SG has unique sensory properties. At present, it is more complicated to extract high-quality SGs from plants, so the excavation of the metabolic pathways of engineered microorganisms to synthesize SGs has been extensively studied. Specifically, the expression of different glycosyltransferases in microbes is key to the synthesis of various SGs by engineered microorganisms. To trigger more researches on the functional characterization of the enzymes encoded by these genes, this review describes the latest research progresses of the related enzymes involved in SG biosynthesis and metabolic engineering.Key points• Outlines the research progress of key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of SGs• Factors affecting the catalytic capacity of stevia glucosyltransferase• Provide guidance for the efficient synthesis of SGs in microbial cell factories.

Exercise and Stevia Rebaudiana (R) Extracts Attenuate Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Rats: Possible Underlying Mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In the current work, we studied the effects of exercise and stevia rebaudiana (R) extracts on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in type 2 diabetic rats and their possible underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups; a) normal control group, b) DM group, type 2 diabetic rats received 2 ml oral saline daily for 4 weeks, c) DM+ Exercise, type 2 diabetic rats were treated with exercise for 4 weeks and d) DM+ stevia R extracts: type 2 diabetic rats received methanolic stevia R extracts. By the end of the experiment, serum blood glucose, HOMA-IR, insulin and cardiac enzymes (LDH, CK-MB), cardiac histopathology, oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH and CAT), myocardial fibrosis by Masson trichrome, the expression of p53, caspase-3, α-SMA and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) by immunostaining in myocardial tissues were measured.

RESULTS

T2DM caused a significant increase in blood glucose, HOMA-IR index, serum CK-MB and LDH, myocardial damage and fibrosis, myocardial MDA, myocardial α-SMA, p53, caspase-3, Nrf2 and TH density with a significant decrease in serum insulin and myocardial GSH and CAT (p< 0.05). On the other hand, treatment with either exercise or stevia R extracts significantly improved all studied parameters (p< 0.05). Moreover, the effects of stevia R was more significant than exercise (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both exercise and methanolic stevia R extracts showed cardioprotective effects against DCM and Stevia R offered more cardioprotective than exercise. This cardioprotective effect of these lines of treatment might be due to attenuation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, sympathetic nerve density and fibrosis and upregulation of the antioxidant transcription factor, Nrf2.

A ternary eluent strategy to tune the peak shape of steviol glycosides in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In this paper, an effective strategy of using acetonitrile-methanol-water as mobile phase was developed to achieve acceptable peak shape of steviol glycosides in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). The change of elution profiles of rebaudioside A (RA) was systematically investigated. Two classical distributions, namely, tailing and fronting peaks resulting from injections of RA solution in range of 0.5-5 mg were both observed in a ternary eluent of acetonitrile-methanol-water (21:43:36, v/v). Next, a three-phase diagram of tailing factor (Tf) was illustrated, showing high dependence of elution profile of RA on the ternary composition. The peak shape of RA can be adjusted mainly based on the additive effect, that is, acetonitrile is more strongly adsorbed to the stationary phase than RA in the pure weak solvent (H2O). Therefore, with the increase of acetonitrile concentration in the ternary eluent, the RA band profiles went from being tailing to fronting shapes. At the same time, due to the large RA-RA interactions, there was anti-Langmuir adsorption isotherm in acetonitrile-water mobile phase, which is the reason for the fronting peaks of RA. It could be concluded that the way of using the ternary eluent of acetonitrile-methanol-water does control and tune the peak shape of steviol glycosides in RPLC separation.

The sensory properties and metabolic impact of natural and synthetic sweeteners

The global rise in obesity, type II diabetes, and other metabolic disorders in recent years has been attributed in part to the overconsumption of added sugars. Sugar reduction strategies often rely on synthetic and naturally occurring sweetening compounds to achieve their goals, with popular synthetic sweeteners including saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, alitame, and advantame. Natural sweeteners can be further partitioned into nutritive, including polyols, rare sugars, honey, maple syrup, and agave, and nonnutritive, which include steviol glycosides and rebaudiosides, luo han guo (monk fruit), and thaumatin. We choose the foods we consume largely on their sensory properties, an area in which these sugar substitutes often fall short. Here, we discuss the most popular synthetic and natural sweeteners, with the goal of providing an understanding of differences in the sensory profiles of these sweeteners versus sucrose, that they are designed to replace, essential for the effectiveness of sugar reduction strategies. In addition, we break down the influence of these sweeteners on metabolism, and present results from a large survey of consumers' opinions on these sweeteners. Consumer interest in clean label foods has driven a move toward natural sweeteners; however, neither natural nor synthetic sweeteners are metabolically inert. Identifying sugar replacements that not only closely imitate the sensory profile of sucrose but also exert advantageous effects on body weight and metabolism is critical in successfully the ultimate goals of reducing added sugar in the average consumer's diet. With so many options for sucrose replacement available, consumer opinion and cost, which vary widely with suagr replacements, will also play a vital role in which sweeteners are successful in widespread adoption.

Nutritional, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Toxicological Profile of Two Innovative Types of Vegan, Sugar-Free Chocolate

Increased sugar consumption and unhealthy dietary patterns are key drivers of many preventable diseases that result in disability and death worldwide. However, health awareness has increased over the past decades creating a massive on-going demand for new low/non-caloric natural sweeteners that have a high potential and are safer for consumption than artificial ones. The current study aims to investigate the nutritional properties, in vitro toxicological profile, total/individual polyphenols content, and the antioxidant, anti-cariogenic, and antimicrobial activity of two newly obtained vegan and sugar-free chocolate (VHC1 and VHC2). The energy values for the two finished products were very similar, 408.04 kcal/100 g for VHC1 and 404.68 kcal/100 g for VHC2. Both products, VHC1 and VHC2 present strong antioxidant activities, whereas antimicrobial results show an increased activity for VHC1 compared to VHC2, because of a higher phenolic content. In vitro toxicological evaluation revealed that both samples present a safe toxicological profile, while VHC2 increased cellular turnover of dermal cell lines, highlighting its potential use in skin treatments. The current work underlines the potential use of these vegetal mixtures as sugar-free substitutes for conventional products, as nutraceuticals, as well as topic application in skin care due to antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.

Greenhouse evaluation of branching, leaf yield and biochemical compositions of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni to decapitation and foliar application of abscisic acid and fluridone

Stevia is a herbaceous plant containing non-sugar sweeteners that could be regarded as a successor to sugar for diabetics. However, there are some problems with the cultivation of stevia, especially in the greenhouse, including unbranching and low sweetening agents. To overcome this issue, an experiment was designed to increase not only the branching and leaf production but also the sweetness. Therefore, a novel strategy using abscisic acid (0, 50, 100, 150 μM), its inhibitor, i.e. fluridone (0, 50, 100, 150 μM) and decapitation of plant apical meristems was applied. Results showed that when stevia was decapitated, dormant buds responded to the application of abscisic acid and fluridone. Under these conditions, axillary buds were developed to branches. As well leaf, total dry weight, soluble sugars and steviol glycosides (SGs) were significantly increased. In addition, the interaction of abscisic acid (50 and 100 μM) and fluridone (50 μM) had the highest positive effects on plant growth and steviol glycosides production rather than their sole applications. Results also indicated that decapitation removed a terminal dominance over a limited period of time and the terminal dominance was re-established with the growth of the terminal branches, whereas the influence of 50 µM fluridone on stevia was long term and the number of shoots was greater. Since stevia is a costly sweetener, the results of this study could be used in greenhouses, where the cultivation of stevia seems to be reasonable in terms of economic aspects.

Rapid and Economic Determination of 13 Steviol Glycosides in Market-Available Food, Dietary Supplements, and Ingredients: Single-Laboratory Validation of an HPLC Method

Steviol glycosides, obtained from leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (stevia) or produced via bioconversion and biosynthesis, are diterpenes used by the food/dietary supplement industry as zero-calorie sweeteners derived from natural sources. JECFA 2017 is the most updated international standardized method but it runs for 80 min per sample with suboptimal separations on several critical pairs for its high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) determination. We developed and validated a rapid and economic HPLC-UV method using the superficially porous particle column to determine 13 steviol glycosides (stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside, steviobioside, and rebaudioside A-F, I, M, and N). Baseline separation with a minimum resolution of 1.5 for 13 steviol glycosides was achieved within only 14 min of separation time. The hydrocarbon stationary phase with additional steric interactions from the isobutyl side chains on the C18 ligand was shown to be an important contributor to chromatographic selectivity of several critical pairs of steviol glycosides. The method was proven to perform suitably on columns from three different manufacturers and two HPLC instruments. The method was further used to perform a single-lab validation on eight food and supplement products with multiple matrices. The results ranged from 0.05% w/w rebaudioside A for a hard-candy finished product to 100.8% w/w purity for a rebaudioside M raw ingredient. The validation test results showed that the method was linear, suitable, specific, accurate, and precise. The method is therefore suitable to be considered as a new industrial standard for quality control analysis for stevia products.

Comparative evaluation of Stevia and Xylitol chewing gum on salivary Streptococcus mutans count - A pilot study

Background

Stevia is a natural sweetener which is used as sugar substitute. It has been suggested that stevia may be anticariogenic. However, there is limited research in this regard. Hence, the present study was designed to assess reduction in S. mutans in stevia and xylitol chewing gums. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of stevia and xylitol chewing gums on salivary Streptococcus mutans count.

Material and Methods

A randomized triple blinded clinical study with a crossover design included twenty healthy children aged 8-13 years with decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft)/DMFT index score ≥ 3. Before the test, unstimulated saliva was collected. Children divided into Group I and II were given Stevia and Xylitol chewing gums respectively. Saliva samples were then collected at 15 min (just after spitting) and after 1 h. The amount of S. mutans in saliva was evaluated using a selective media (TYCSB). The data were subjected to statistical analysis using statistical software IBM SPSS statistics 20.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

Reduction in S. mutans was seen from baseline to 1 hour in both groups in trial and crossover design though intergroup comparison was not statistically significant. There was reduction seen from baseline to 15 minutes and 15 minutes to 1 hour in xylitol and stevia group both in trial and crossover design which was statistically significant.

Conclusions

Stevia containing chewing gum is equally effective to Xylitol chewing gum in reducing salivary S. mutans counts. Key words:Stevia, Xylitol , S. mutans.

Stevia rebaudiana extract attenuate metabolic disorders in diabetic rats via modulation of glucose transport and antioxidant signaling pathways and aquaporin-2 expression in two extrahepatic tissues

Today, plant-based therapies have been attracted attention to overcome diabetes complications. This study was an attempt to evaluate whether antidiabetic and nephroprotective effects of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni (SRB) can be exerted via upregulation of GLUT-4, SNAP23, and Stx4 in skeletal muscles or modulation of AQP2 mRNA expression and antioxidant signaling pathway activity (Nrf2/Keap1) in kidneys. To achieve this aim, diabetes was induced via STZ-nicotinamide (STZ-NA). Diabetes increased the level of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), and Keap1 mRNA expression, which was coincide with reduction in mRNA levels of Nrf2, GLUT4, SNAP23, and Stx4. SRB and metformin compensate mentioned variables. However, SRB extract was more effective than metformin to increase the levels of GLUT4 and Nrf2 mRNA. It seems that SRB might attenuate the diabetic complications via manipulating the glucose uptake components in peripheral tissues and might exert the nephroprotective effects by modulation of AQP2, and Nrf2/Keap1 mRNA expression. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Synthetic antidiabetic drugs have been only partially successful in controlling the diabetic complications. Moreover, use of these drugs is associated with a number of adverse effects. Over the past few years, a renewed attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of diabetes using medicinal plants and functional foods. SRB that have been known as natural sweetener for centuries, is a such natural agent that has high source of various phytochemicals with antidiabetic, renal protective, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. In the current study, possible molecular mechanisms of insulin-mimetic and nephroprotective effects of SRB extract was evaluated in diabetic rats. Due to powerful antihyperglycemic and nephroprotective effects of SRB extract that were showed in this study and previous studies, hence the fact that SRB is to be highlighted for future research as a new therapeutic agent for diabetes.

Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Production of Biomass, Polyphenolics and Steviol Glycosides in Adventitious Root Cultures of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.)

In current study, the effect of gibberellic acid was tested for production of biomass, polyphenolics and Steviol glycosides in adventitious root cultures of Stevia rebaudiana. Adventitious cultures were induced from the roots of in vitro grown plantlets on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing combination of gibberellic acid (GA₃; 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 0.5 mg/L). Initially, a known mass of inoculum roots were shifted into suspension media augmented with various GA₃ concentrations. The growth behavior of adventitious roots was recorded every 3 days for a period of 30 days. Maximum biomass biosynthesis (13.12 g/flask) was noticed in exponential phase on 27th day in the suspension containing 2.0 mg/L of GA₃. Other GA₃ concentrations also displayed optimum patterns of biomass accumulation as compared to the control. Adventitious roots were investigated for total phenolic content (TPC) and production (TPP), total flavonoid content (TFC) and production (TFP), and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-based antioxidant potential. Maximum phenolics (TPC 9.84 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g-dry weight (DW)) and TPP (147.6 mg/L), TFC (5.12 mg Quercitin equivalent (QE)/g-DW) and TFP (76.91 mg/L) were observed in 2.0 mg/L GA₃ treated cultures. The same concentration of gibberellic acid enhanced antioxidant activity (77.2%). Furthermore, maximum stevioside (7.13 mg/g-DW), rebaudioside-A (0.27 mg/g-DW) and dulcoside-A (0.001 mg/g-DW) were observed in roots exposed to 2.0 mg/L GA₃. This is the first report on the application of GA₃ on biomass accumulation and secondary metabolite production in S. rebaudiana. The current study will be helpful to scale up the adventitious root cultures in bioreactors for the production of biomass and pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites.

Dietary Stevioside Supplementation Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intestinal Mucosal Damage through Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in Broiler Chickens

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary stevioside (STE) supplementation on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal mucosal damage of broiler chickens. A total of 192 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments: (1) basal diet (CON); (2) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg stevioside (STE); (3) basal diet + LPS-challenge (LPS); (4) basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg stevioside + LPS-challenge (LPS + STE). LPS-challenged groups received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS at 17, 19 and 21 d, whereas the CON and STE groups received a saline injection. The results showed that dietary STE supplementation normalized LPS-induced changes in protein expression of p-NF-κB and p-IκBα, mRNA expression of inflammatory genes (TLR4, NF-κB, and IFN-γ), tight junction-related genes (CLDN2, OCLN, and ZO-1), and antioxidant genes (Nrf2 and HO-1). LPS-induced decreases in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) level, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, apoptotic index, and protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were reversed with dietary STE supplementation. Additionally, STE supplementation ameliorated the redox damage by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increasing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and antioxidant enzyme activity. In conclusion, dietary stevioside supplementation could alleviate LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in broiler chickens.

A Newly Discovered Phenylethanoid Glycoside from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Affects Insulin Secretion in Rat INS-1 Islet β Cells

The tea-like beverage Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (Stevia) is popular in China because it reduces blood glucose and has a sweet taste. In this work, a comprehensive quality assessment of Stevia led to the discovery of five phenylethanoid glycosides, namely steviophethanoside (1), cuchiloside (2), salidroside (3), icariside D (4), and tyrosol (5). Of them, compound 1 is a novel compound. Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy were employed to confirm the absolute configuration. A hydrolytic step with 4 N TFA at 95 °C for 4 h was used to confirm the monosaccharides. In addition, Discovery Studio 4.0 was used to predict the ADME and toxicity activity of compound 1. The results suggested that compound 1 was biocompatible and had poor toxicity, which was verified by rat INS-1 islet β cells through an MTT assay. Meanwhile, a significant stimulatory effect on INS-1 cells was observed, which indicated a hypoglycemic effect of compound 1. This is the first report that describes a natural, novel, and hypoglycemic phenylethanoid glycoside in Stevia.

Bioactivity Profile of the Diterpene Isosteviol and its Derivatives

Steviosides, rebaudiosides and their analogues constitute a major class of naturally occurring biologically active diterpene compounds. The wide spectrum of pharmacological activity of this group of compounds has developed an interest among medicinal chemists to synthesize, purify, and analyze more selective and potent isosteviol derivatives. It has potential biological applications and improves the field of medicinal chemistry by designing novel drugs with the ability to cope against resistance developing diseases. The outstanding advancement in the design and synthesis of isosteviol and its derivative has proved its effectiveness and importance in the field of medicinal chemical research. The present review is an effort to integrate recently developed novel drugs syntheses from isosteviol and potentially active pharmacological importance of the isosteviol derivatives covering the recent advances.

Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) and important health outcomes in generally healthy or overweight/obese adults and children.

DESIGN

Systematic review following standard Cochrane review methodology.

DATA SOURCES

Medline (Ovid), Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Clinicaltrials.gov, and reference lists of relevant publications.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Studies including generally healthy adults or children with or without overweight or obesity were eligible. Included study designs allowed for a direct comparison of no intake or lower intake of NSS with higher NSS intake. NSSs had to be clearly named, the dose had to be within the acceptable daily intake, and the intervention duration had to be at least seven days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Body weight or body mass index, glycaemic control, oral health, eating behaviour, preference for sweet taste, cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, mood, behaviour, neurocognition, and adverse effects.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 13 941 unique records. Of 56 individual studies that provided data for this review, 35 were observational studies. In adults, evidence of very low and low certainty from a limited number of small studies indicated a small beneficial effect of NSSs on body mass index (mean difference -0.6, 95% confidence interval -1.19 to -0.01; two studies, n=174) and fasting blood glucose (-0.16 mmol/L, -0.26 to -0.06; two, n=52). Lower doses of NSSs were associated with lower weight gain (-0.09 kg, -0.13 to -0.05; one, n=17 934) compared with higher doses of NSSs (very low certainty of evidence). For all other outcomes, no differences were detected between the use and non-use of NSSs, or between different doses of NSSs. No evidence of any effect of NSSs was seen on overweight or obese adults or children actively trying to lose weight (very low to moderate certainty). In children, a smaller increase in body mass index z score was observed with NSS intake compared with sugar intake (-0.15, -0.17 to -0.12; two, n=528, moderate certainty of evidence), but no significant differences were observed in body weight (-0.60 kg, -1.33 to 0.14; two, n=467, low certainty of evidence), or between different doses of NSSs (very low to moderate certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Most health outcomes did not seem to have differences between the NSS exposed and unexposed groups. Of the few studies identified for each outcome, most had few participants, were of short duration, and their methodological and reporting quality was limited; therefore, confidence in the reported results is limited. Future studies should assess the effects of NSSs with an appropriate intervention duration. Detailed descriptions of interventions, comparators, and outcomes should be included in all reports.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

Prospero CRD42017047668.

Effects of Sweeteners on the Gut Microbiota: A Review of Experimental Studies and Clinical Trials

The consumption of sugar-free foods is growing because of their low-calorie content and the health concerns about products with high sugar content. Sweeteners that are frequently several hundred thousand times sweeter than sucrose are being consumed as sugar substitutes. Although nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are considered safe and well tolerated, their effects on glucose intolerance, the activation of sweet taste receptors, and alterations to the composition of the intestinal microbiota are controversial. This review critically discusses the evidence supporting the effects of NNSs, both synthetic sweeteners (acesulfame K, aspartame, cyclamate, saccharin, neotame, advantame, and sucralose) and natural sweeteners (NSs; thaumatin, steviol glucosides, monellin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, and glycyrrhizin) and nutritive sweeteners (polyols or sugar alcohols) on the composition of microbiota in the human gut. So far, only saccharin and sucralose (NNSs) and stevia (NS) change the composition of the gut microbiota. By definition, a prebiotic is a nondigestible food ingredient, but some polyols can be absorbed, at least partially, in the small intestine by passive diffusion: however, a number of them, such as isomaltose, maltitol, lactitol, and xylitol, can reach the large bowel and increase the numbers of bifidobacteria in humans. Further research on the effects of sweeteners on the composition of the human gut microbiome is necessary.

Sugar Substitutes: Mechanism, Availability, Current Use and Safety Concerns-An Update

BACKGROUND

Dental caries has continued to be the major oral disease in the past, as well as the present scenario. Cariogenic sugars in the presence of specific bacteria Streptococcus mutans over a period have been attributed as the major etiologic agent for dental caries. The association between sugar consumption and dental caries has been well documented.

AIM

Hence, the dental profession shares an interest in the search for safe, palatable sugar substitutes.

METHODS

Therefore, the use of a suitable sugar substitute can help in combating dental caries.

RESULTS

Out of the various sugar substitutes available, xylitol is the most widely used. It is available in various forms. It decreases the plaque formation, bacterial adherence and inhibits the growth of Mutans Streptococci.

CONCLUSION

This article provides a comprehensive review of the sugar substitutes, present-day availability, role in the prevention of dental caries and their safety concerns.

Determination of steviol glycosides in commercial extracts of Stevia rebaudiana and sweeteners by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Stevia rebaudiana extracts are used as sweeteners in several countries worldwide. Several extracts of diverse composition are available on the market, and their taste depends on the contents of the various steviol glycosides. This study presents an accurate method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of steviol glycosides in 40 Stevia extracts, 7 sweeteners and 3 Stevia-sweetened beverages by a UHPLC coupled to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The sub-2 μm amide column provided the separation of all the target analytes in a run time of 30 min with high resolution. The effect of different eluent compositions on the ionisation efficiency of the steviol glycosides was studied. The optimal ionisation conditions were achieved in negative mode using 0.05% formic acid. Under this condition, adducts were not found, [M-H]^- were the main ions and the spontaneous loss of a glucose residue at C19 was reduced. The %RSD for intra- and inter-day precision for all eleven analytes varied from 2.1 to 4.2% and 3.0-5.1%, respectively. The recoveries from spiked Stevia extract samples were greater than 95% for all analytes. Rebaudioside A was the most abundant, ranging from 23 to 102%. Nine Stevia extracts and one drink were not compliant with the European Regulation. Isosteviol was under the LOD in all samples and steviol was found in four samples in quantities in the range 0.01-0.03%.

Antihyperlipidemic efficacy of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni in albino rats

BACKGROUND

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) natural, safe, non-toxic, non-caloric sugar substitute is rich source of pharmacologically important glycoside stevioside that is linked to the pathology and complications of hyperlipidemia.

METHODS

The present research was carried out to explore the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves in albino rats. For this purpose, hyperlipidemia was induced by administration of Cholesterol (90% E, Appli Chem, Darmstadt, Germany) mixed at dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of rats in their daily routine feed. The hyperlipidemic rats were administered with aqueous stevia extract at different dose levels (200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm/kg b.w.) for 8 weeks; the control rats were fed basal diet during this period. Ethical approval for the current research was obtained from Institutional Review Board Faculty of Science & Technology Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

RESULTS

Stevia aqueous extract decreased the body weight gain by lowering the feed intake of hyperlipidemic rats. Furthermore, administration of stevia extract at different levels significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the TC (125.22 ± 5.91 to 110.56 ± 5.81 mg/dL), TG (102.13 ± 6.89 to 98.62 ± 7.22 mg/dL), LDL (33.02 ± 4.79 to 22.77 ± 4.36 mg/dL), VLDL (21.22 ± 5.79 to 19.33 ± 5.95 mg/dL) levels and LDL/HDL ratios (0.83 ± 1.22 to 0.54 ± 1.66 mg/dL) from H1 to H4. Conversely, it improved the HDL (39.76 ± 4.34 to l42.02 ± 4.39 mg/dL) level in hyperlipidemic rats compared with untreated rats after eight weeks study period.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that aqueous extract of stevia has anti-hyperlipidemic effects in albino rats, and therefore could be a promising nutraceutical therapy for the management of hyperlipidemia and its associated complications.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and Its Effects in Human Disease: Emphasizing Its Role in Inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial shrub with zero calorie content that has been increasing in popularity for its potential use as an adjuvant in the treatment of obesity. The level of evidence supporting general benefits to human health is insufficient. We conducted a review of the literature summarizing the current knowledge and role in human disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite stevia's minimal systemic absorption, studies have been promising regarding its potential benefits against inflammation, carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis glucose control, and hypertension. On the other hand, the growing popularity of artificial sweeteners does not correlate with improved trends in obesity. An increased intake of artificial non-caloric sweeteners may not be associated with decreased intake of traditional sugar-sweetened beverages and foods. The effects of Stevia on weight change have been linked to bacteria in the intestinal microbiome, mainly by affecting Clostridium and Bacteroides sp.

POPULATIONS

A growing body of evidence indicates that Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is protective against malignant conversion by inhibition of DNA replication in human cancer cell growth in vitro. Consumption of Stevia has demonstrated to be generally safe in most reports. Further clinical studies are warranted to determine if regular consumption brings sustained benefits for human health.

Novel Food Processing and Extraction Technologies of High-Added Value Compounds from Plant Materials

Some functional foods contain biologically active compounds (BAC) that can be derived from various biological sources (fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, wastes, and by-products). Global food markets demand foods from plant materials that are “safe”, “fresh”, “natural”, and with “nutritional value” while processed in sustainable ways. Functional foods commonly incorporate some plant extract(s) rich with BACs produced by conventional extraction. This approach implies negative thermal influences on extraction yield and quality with a large expenditure of organic solvents and energy. On the other hand, sustainable extractions, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), high-pressure assisted extraction (HPAE), high voltage electric discharges assisted extraction (HVED), pulsed electric fields assisted extraction (PEF), supercritical fluids extraction (SFE), and others are aligned with the “green” concepts and able to provide raw materials on industrial scale with optimal expenditure of energy and chemicals. This review provides an overview of relevant innovative food processing and extraction technologies applied to various plant matrices as raw materials for functional foods production.

Anti diabetic property of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves in Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in albino rats

BACKGROUND

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) natural, non-caloric sugar substitute is rich source of pharmacologically important glycoside stevioside that is linked to the pathology and complications of diabetes.

METHODS

The current research was carried out to explore the anti-diabetic effect of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves in albino rats. For this purpose, diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally). The diabetic rats were administered with aqueous stevia extract at different dose levels (200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm/kg b.w) for 8 weeks; the control rats were fed basal diet during this period.

RESULTS

Stevia aqueous extract improved caloric management and weight control by decreasing the feed intake and body weight gain. Furthermore, intake of stevia extract resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the random blood glucose level (- 73.24%) and fasting blood glucose (- 66.09%) and glycosylated (HbA1c) hemoglobin (5.32%) while insulin (17.82 μIU/mL) and liver glycogen (45.02 mg/g) levels significantly improved in the diabetic rats, compared with the diabetic and non-diabetic control rats after 8 weeks study period.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that aqueous extact of stevia has anti-diabetic effects in albino rats, and therefore could be promising nutraceutical therapy for the management of diabetes and its associated complications.

Plant-derived isoprenoid sweeteners: recent progress in biosynthetic gene discovery and perspectives on microbial production

Increased public awareness of negative health effects associated with excess sugar consumption has triggered increasing interest in plant-derived natural sweeteners. Steviol glycosides are a group of highly sweet diterpene glycosides contained in the leaves of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Mogrosides, extracted from monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii), are a group of cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides. Glycyrrhizin is an oleanane-type triterpenoid glycoside derived from the underground parts of Glycyrrhiza plants (licorice). This review focuses on the natural isoprenoid sweetening agents steviol glycosides, mogrosides, and glycyrrhizin, and describes recent progress in gene discovery and elucidation of the catalytic functions of their biosynthetic enzymes. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in engineering the production of various plant-specialized metabolites in microbial hosts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae via the introduction of biosynthetic enzyme genes. Perspectives on the microbial production of plant-derived natural sweeteners are also discussed.

Pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) for the green recovery of bioactive compounds and steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves are a natural source of diterpenic glycosides, and various bioactive compounds. The objectives were to characterize antioxidants and steviol glycosides in the extracts obtained from Stevia after "green" pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE). PHWE extracts were obtained at different temperatures (100, 130, 160 °C); static extraction times (5 and 10 min), and cycle numbers (1, 2, 3) using a constant pressure of 10.34 MPa. Temperature was the most important parameter for extraction, where the highest recoveries of all bioactive compounds (except for carotenoids) were at 160 °C. Extracts obtained at longer static times had more steviol glycosides, condensed tannins, and chlorophyll A. Higher amounts of total phenols, condensed tannins, and steviol glycosides were obtained under higher cycle numbers. This study indicated that PHWE is useful for recovering polar and nonpolar antioxidants and steviol glycosides. PHWE may be a suitable technique for scale-up to industrial applications.

Mitochondriotropic and Cardioprotective Effects of Triphenylphosphonium-Conjugated Derivatives of the Diterpenoid Isosteviol

Mitochondria play a crucial role in the cell fate; in particular, reducing the accumulation of calcium in the mitochondrial matrix offers cardioprotection. This affect is achieved by a mild depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, which prevents the assembly and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. For this reason, mitochondria are an attractive target for pharmacological interventions that prevent ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Isosteviol is a diterpenoid created from the acid hydrolysis of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (fam. Asteraceae) glycosides that has shown protective effects against ischaemia/reperfusion injury, which are likely mediated through the activation of mitochondrial adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (mitoKATP) channels. Some triphenylphosphonium (triPP)-conjugated derivatives of isosteviol have been developed, and to evaluate the possible pharmacological benefits that result from these synthetic modifications, in this study, the mitochondriotropic properties of isosteviol and several triPP-conjugates were investigated in rat cardiac mitochondria and in the rat heart cell line H9c2. This study’s main findings highlight the ability of isosteviol to depolarize the mitochondrial membrane potential and reduce calcium uptake by the mitochondria, which are typical functions of mitochondrial potassium channel openings. Moreover, triPP-conjugated derivatives showed a similar behavior to isosteviol but at lower concentrations, indicative of their improved uptake into the mitochondrial matrix. Finally, the cardioprotective property of a selected triPP-conjugated derivative was demonstrated in an in vivo model of acute myocardial infarct.

Glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Possess Insulin-Mimetic and Antioxidant Activities in Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a shrub having a high content of sweet diterpenoid glycosides in its leaves, mainly stevioside and rebaudioside A, which are used as noncaloric, natural sweeteners. The aim of this study was to deepen the knowledge about the insulin-mimetic effect exerted by four different mixtures of steviol glycosides, rich in stevioside and rebaudioside A, in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts. The potential antioxidant activity of these steviol glycosides was also assessed, as oxidative stress is associated with diabetes. Likewise the insulin effect, steviol glycosides caused an increase in glucose uptake into rat fibroblasts by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus inducing Glut4 translocation to the plasma membrane. The presence of S961, an insulin antagonist, completely abolished these effects, allowing to hypothesize that steviol glycosides could act as ligands of the same receptor engaged by insulin. Moreover, steviol glycosides counteracted oxidative stress by increasing reduced glutathione intracellular levels and upregulating expression and activity of the two antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. The present work unravels the insulin-mimetic effect and the antioxidant property exerted by steviol glycosides, suggesting their potential beneficial role in the cotreatment of diabetes and in health maintenance.

Rapid Solid-Liquid Dynamic Extraction (RSLDE): a New Rapid and Greener Method for Extracting Two Steviol Glycosides (Stevioside and Rebaudioside A) from Stevia Leaves

Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the main diterpene glycosides present in the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, which is used in the production of foods and low-calorie beverages. The difficulties associated with their extraction and purification are currently a problem for the food processing industries. The objective of this study was to develop an effective and economically viable method to obtain a high-quality product while trying to overcome the disadvantages derived from the conventional transformation processes. For this reason, extractions were carried out using a conventional maceration (CM) and a cyclically pressurized extraction known as rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction (RSLDE) by the Naviglio extractor (NE). After only 20 min of extraction using the NE, a quantity of rebaudioside A and stevioside equal to 1197.8 and 413.6 mg/L was obtained, respectively, while for the CM, the optimum time was 90 min. From the results, it can be stated that the extraction process by NE and its subsequent purification developed in this study is a simple, economical, environmentally friendly method for producing steviol glycosides. Therefore, this method constitutes a valid alternative to conventional extraction by reducing the extraction time and the consumption of toxic solvents and favouring the use of the extracted metabolites as food additives and/or nutraceuticals. As an added value and of local interest, the experiment was carried out on stevia leaves from the Benevento area (Italy), where a high content of rebaudioside A was observed, which exhibits a sweet taste compared to stevioside, which has a significant bitter aftertaste.