- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Stevia Rebaudiana
Fasiha Ahsan*, Shahid Bashir and Faiz-ul-Hassan Shah
University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
Submission: June 25, 2020; Published: July 16, 2020
*Corresponding author: Fasiha Ahsan, PhD Scholar, University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
How to cite this article: Fasiha A, Shahid B, Faiz-ul-Hassan S. Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Stevia Rebaudiana. Curre Res Diabetes & Obes J 2020; 13(4): 555867. DOI: 10.19080/CRDOJ.2020.13.555867
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Abstract
Researches on new molecules with the least toxic effects and better potency is on its way and more attention is being given upon medicinal plants for forcing away the above problems. Medicinal plants have been recognized as potential drug candidates. Stevia, a natural sweetener with medicinal properties and also having nutritional, therapeutic and industrial importance is being used all over the world. Stevia rebaudiana leaves are usually referred to as candy, sweet and honey leaves. Diterpene glycosides are responsible for its high sweetening potential of leaves. The phytochemical properties of bioactive chemicals present in stevia leaves are involves in maintaining the physiological functions of human body. Paper also highlights the importance of nutritional aspects of dried stevia leaves, metabolism of stevia, effects of it consumption on human health and clinical studies related to stevia ingestion. Various medicinal properties of stevia leaves discussed in paper like anti-hyperglycemia, anti-oxidative, hypotensive, nephro-protective, hepato protective, antibacterial and antifungal. Basic purpose of this review to understand the medicinal potential of stevia and its acceptance as a significant raw material for human diet.
Keywords: Stevia; Diabetes; Phytochemicals; Medicinal plant; Steviol; Nutrition; Disorders
Abbreviations: TGF-β: Transforming Growth Factor; β; PCT: Proximal Convoluted Tubule; DCT: Distal Convoluted Tubule; PCC: Protein Carbonyl Content; BHA: Butylated Hydroxyanisole; BHT: Butylated Hydroxytoluene; DPPH: Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl-Hydrate; FRAP: Ferric Ion Reducing Activity; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Introduction
The emergence of chemical molecules was a blessing at once to combat several diseases, but it paved the way for troublous situations like various adverse effects, the emergence of resistance. Researches on new molecules with the least toxic effects and better potency is on its way and more attention is being given upon traditional plants for forcing away the above problems. Nature has bestowed our world with an enormous wealth of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants have been recognized as potential drug candidates. Stevia, a natural sweetener producing medicinal plant having nutritional, therapeutic and industrial importance is being used all over the world. Stevia rebaudiana is a shrub belongs to Asteraceae family and is indigenous to Paraguay, Brazil. It is being cultivated in some parts of Canada, Asia and Europe. Though there are above 200 species of the genus stevia, only stevia rebaudiana gives the sweetest essence [1]. Leaves of Stevia produce diterpene glycosides (stevioside and rebaudiosides), non-nutritive, non-toxic, high-potency sweeteners and may replace sucrose as well as other artificial sweetners, being 300 times sweeter than sucrose [2]. Stevia rebaudiana leaves are usually referred to as candy, sweet and honey leaves. This is due to the production of stevoil glycosides sweetening compounds [3]. It is known for its sweetness imparted by its glycosides without causing any dysregulation. Steviol is the common aglycone backbone of the sweet stevia glycosides that have been analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with UV, MS and ELS detection [4]. The phytochemical studies concluded the existence of tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, sterols, triterpenes with various potentials [5,6]. Purpose of this review to understand the medicinal potential of stevia and its acceptance as a significant raw material for human diet.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Botanical Description of Stevia
Stevia is a woody shrub and when it fully matured can reach upto 80 cm in height. The stevia genus comprises at least 110 species but there may be as many as 300. Its habitat extends from the southwestern United States to the Brazilian highlands [7]. It is estimated that there are over 250 species of stevia which grows wild around the world. However, sweetening properties have been found in stevia rebaudiana and in some species. Stevia is a cm long leaves. The root system of the plant is extensive, the stem is woody and weak-pubescent at the bottom. It has white flowers with a pale purple throat. They are small in size and arranged in the form of small corymbs [1]. Taxonomic information of stevia rebaudiana is present in Table 1.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Chemical Description of Stevia
Diterpene glycosides are responsible for its high sweetening potential of leaves. Steviol glycosides, are extracted and recognized as stevioside, rebaudioside, steviolbioside and dulcoside. Most ample glycoside of stevia is stevioside and is found to be 4–13% of dry weight in the stevia leaves, rbaudioside is 2–5% and dulcoside 0.4–0.7%. Stevioside accounts for 4 up to 13% all glycosides in stevia. It is bittery or stringent when it is tasted. Comparative organoleptic analyses showed that pure stevioside is 300 times sweeter than sucrose at a concentration of 0.4% [8]. Kroyer [9] reported that steviosides are stable at various processing and storage conditions. Rebaudioside is 250–450 times sweeter than sucrose and it is found in stevia rebaudiana at 2–5% of dry matter. It is the most stable of glycosides and has no bitter after taste, in contrast to steviosides. Rebaudioside is metabolised by intestinal microorganisms to stevioside and finally it is transformed to glucose and a molecule of steviol. Apart from diterpene glycosides, sweet leaf also contains diterpenes and triterpenes [10].
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Phytochemical Constituents
Plants accumulate secondary metabolites called phytochemicals to defend themselves against microbial infections or infestations by pests. Phytochemicals are active ingredients which possess therapeutic properties that are considered as a medicine or drug [11]. Srivastava et al. [12] showed the presence of different phytochemicals in stevia leaves extract with their respective solvent systems. The phytochemical properties of bioactive chemicals present in stevia leaves are summarized in Table 2.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
Stevia leaves on a dry weight basis provides an energy of 2.7 kcal/g and it is considered as low calorie sweetener. Benefits related to stevia leaf are mostly due to their nutritional composition because it is a significant source of carbohydrates, protein and crude fiber that maintains the wellbeing and decrease the risk of various diseases. Fat content in dried stevia powder is up to 1.9–4.34 g/100 g whereas, carbohydrates and protein contents are in range of 52 to 64.06 and 10.0 to 18.0 respectively [12,13]. The proximate composition of stevia is presented in Table 2. In stevia leaves main source of energy is carbohydrates due to the presence of poly and fructo-oligosaccharides, which regulates the metabolism of lipid and reduce the sugar level in blood [3]. Mineral components also present in dried leaves powder but in minute quantities but are essential for many metabolic processes in human body. Minerals plays a vital role in health, reproduction, growth and involved in the formation of new tissues and cells [14]. Table 3 represent the mineral contents of dried stevia leaves [15].
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
Stevia leaves contain a no calorie, stevioside and rebaudiosides which are 300 times sweeter than sucrose with more dissolving power in aqueous solution like water and a positive taste profile that are significantly metabolized by human body without causing any harm consequences. Steviol glycosides are absorbed and excreted through similar pathways in both humans and animals [16]. Metabolization process of rebaudioside in the digestive tract is start by colon microbes which converted it into the stevioside that further metabolized into steviol and glucose. Glucose which is formed in this process directly used by bacteria present in colon rather to absorbed in blood stream. Benefit of using stevia leaves is that after processing there is no accumulation of any by product in human body because all the excess components release through urine. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative resemblances have been identified among the gut microflora of human body and rats [17]. Another study which was conducted on to the human gastro-intestinal tract determines that that metabolized form of stevia is not modified in low and high concentrations as observed by faeces, study also indicated that much of the steviol glycosides are absorbed and remaining released by urine through kidneys with the help of glucuronide bond. Whereas, minute quantities of glucuronide excreted through fecal mass [18].
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Caloric Content of Steviosides
It has been shown that the human body does not absorb stevioside by the oral route and none of the digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract can degrade stevioside in its aglycone: steviol. It is important to notice that bacteria present in human colon are capable of transforming stevioside to steviol. As steviosides are not absorbed by the human body because majority of it after absorption excreted through urine and remaining minute quantities eliminated through feces, therefore, steviosides are not a source of caloric energy [17]. Several tests of digestion and absorption have been performed with stevioside compounds and the effect of gastric juices and digestive enzymes on them show their inability to degrade the compounds. The in vitro digestibility of steviosides by various digestive enzymes has been examined for many years; studies found that none of the enzymes present in the digestive tract that digest stevioside, it is only hydrolyzed by colon bacteria into both steviol and steviol-16, 17 alpha-epoxide. Later, steviol 16, 17 alpha-epoxide was again converted to steviol, which was excreted from the body in the urine as steviol glucuronide [19]. This whole process also describes why stevia rebaudiana does not provide calories to the human body.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
About the characteristics of S. rebaudiana beyond its sweetening potential, several studies have been published where antimicrobial, antifungal, hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic (aqueous extract), antitumor, anti-rotavirus, anti-HIV, antihypertensive, antiviral and other effects are attributed to it. Other popular applications of stevia and stevioside (mainly in Latin America and the East) include stimulation of alertness and as a supplement against fatigue; it is also attributed an improvement in the process of digestion and other gastrointestinal functions; in addition to regulating blood glucose levels, help in the recovery of liver, pancreas and spleen [18]. Many of these effects are attributed to the phenolic compounds present in the plant (in the leaves and, to a lesser extent in the stem), said compounds are commonly found in both edible and inedible plants. They are important in the plant for the normal development of growth and defense against the attack of bacteria, parasites, infections, and injuries. Also, the presence of these compounds in injured plants can have an important effect on oxidative stability and microbial safety. Although phenolic compounds have no known nutritional function, they can be important for human health because of their antioxidant potential [20].
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
Although the information regarding the reported effects of stevia rebaudiana is vast. Various studies with different dosage, duration and results regarding clinical trials conducted for different durations (Table 4). Clinical studies indicate the provision of stevia in various forms like powder, aqueous and stevioside to human and STZ rats. Stevia significantly shown the hypoglycemic and weight reduction properties.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Medicinal Potential of Stevia
Anti-hyperglycemic
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia accompanied by disturbances in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, due to either insufficient insulin secretion or insulin insensitivity or both. Though Stevia rebaudiana is mainly used as a sweetening agent in foods and beverages, they do not induce a glycaemic response when ingested, rather than it exerts antidiabetic action by the enhanced secretion of insulin from the beta cells of pancreas and promoting glucose uptake by enhancing insulin sensitivity of peripheral tissues. Stevioside also hinders the production of glucose by preventing the secretion of glucagon secretion [23,24]. The molecular mechanism of action of steviol glycosides as it modulating pancreatic beta cell function by potentiating TRPM5 (Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5), basically a calcium activated cation channel, expressed on beta cells and peripheral entero-endocrine cells in the gut by accelerating insulin release in response to glucose stimulation. Steviol, stevioside, rebaudioside are not the direct agonist of TRPM5, but the steviol moiety is responsible for interacting with the protein. Besides, these glycosides can be used as antihyperglycaemic agents, they are novel leads to the development of antidiabetic drugs targeting TRPM5. Further, these agents didn’t produce hypoglycemia, as seen with synthetic agents and hence will be a great boon for diabetic patients [25]. Steviol glycosides are able to act as ligands of the insulin receptor (IR or IGF-IR) activating the P13k/Akt pathway. Upon activation, signal leads to the Glut 4 translocation from an intracellular pool to the plasma membrane, allowing glucose entry into cells and thus mimics the action of insulin. Biscuits incorporated with stevia was found to inhibit α- glucosidase activity. Aqueous extract of stevia produced anti-hyperglycemic and restore liver and muscle glycogen levels in hyperglycemia-induced rabbits by immobilization stress [26].
Comparison of stevia and pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, both of them having antioxidant properties too can act as ligands on PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ), a nuclear hormone receptor and induce insulin secretion and control the level of blood glucose. The mRNA expression of PPAR-γ can be increased by both stevia and pioglitazone. The hypoglycemic effect is also aided by its antioxidant nature [27]. Reduction in the level of inflammatory cytokine IL-6, which potentiate the elevation of insulin resistance and therefore helpful in type 2 diabetes [28]. Stevia could control the neuronal synaptic plasticity in conditions of metabolic disorders induced by the high consumption of dietary fructose by influencing NOX-(NADPH oxidase level) specific targets and thus have a neuroprotective role [29].
Antioxidant activity
Oxidative damage to biological materials is inflicted on biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acid, lipids, and carbohydrates. Oxidative stress happens when there occurs a disproportion among the secretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the capability of human body to voluntarily detoxify the free radicals to repair the subsequent impairment. In vitro, the antioxidant activity of stevia extract was confirmed by diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, FRAP (ferric ion reducing activity) assay, and phosphomolybdenum assay [30,31]. Both methanolic and aqueous extract of dried stevia leaves is enriched with polyphenols like hesperidin, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, eugenol, coumarin, vanillin and flavonoids and hence can be used as a significant source of antioxidant in food and beverages and a promising candidate for diseases like diabetes, cancer, neural disorders, arthritis and aging which is caused by the production of ROS. The potentiality of stevia antioxidants is able to supersede the synthetic antioxidants like BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), which recently limited in its use due to their carcinogenic potential [32].
Hydrogen peroxide, an abiotic stress elicitor resulted in an increased steviol glycoside production such as rebaudioside and stevioside and non-enzymatic antioxidants that play a defensive role against an oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide [31]. The antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds is due to the radical scavenging by donationg hydrogen. Other radical quenching mechanisms include electron donation and singlet oxygen quenching. The antioxidant effects of flavonoids are ascribed to their power to neutralize the free radicals, chelate metal catalyst, activate antioxidant enzymes, reduce alpha-tocopherol radicals and prevent the actions of oxidases. A significant decrease in the cellular oxidation biomarkers like protein carbonyl content (PCC), antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) was seen in the presence of stevia glycosides in CCl4 induced oxidative stress in a fish model (Cyprinus carpio) [33].
Anti-hyperlipidemic and hypotensive effect
Aqueous extract of stevia rebaudiana exerts a hypolipidemic effect by decreasing cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis, attenuating total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels and elevating HDL cholesterol [23]. Stevia leaves help in regulating the blood pressure by relaxing arteries and prevent the buildup of calcium on artery walls, that promotes vasodilation and reduces total peripheral resistance and volume of extracellular fluid as result of elevated natriuresis and diuresis. Both hypolipidemic and hypotensive effect exerts a cardio-protective action [34].
Antitumor effect
Stevioside has shown a marked effect against various cancers like skin cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer as demonstrated in various cell line studies. The mechanisms for antitumor effects as it mediated the apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species by scavenge free radicals, increased the expression of apoptotic proteins like Bax, Bc1-2, caspase 9 and reducing the cell viability by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing cell apoptosis. Iso-steviol, a breakdown product of stevioside, manifested an inhibitory activity against the enzymes DNA polymerase and DNA topoisomerase II and inactivates P13K/AKT signaling pathway by inhibiting phosphorylation of P13 and AKT. From the methanolic extract of Stevia one compound was isolated and further confirmed by NMR to be centaureidin, which has an antimitotic effect to be used for tumor therapy [31,34].
Nephro-protective
Both stevioside and extracts of stevia show nephroprotective action due to the coinciding activities like suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Renal hypertrophy, glomerular hyper-filtration are two known complications in the initial stages of diabetes mellitus as characterized by then increased cortical volume (80%) and its subcomponents PCT (Proximal Convoluted Tubule), DCT (Distal Convoluted Tubule), glomeruli, interstitial tissue rather than medullary volume. The molecular mechanism of these two complications includes the production of Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) by mesangial components and overproduction of free radicals following hyperglycemia. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase NOS in response to cytokines [35]. Stevia and its glycosides attenuate not only diabetes related kidney injury but also cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent which exerts its action by activating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA repair. The mechanism of nephron-protective action by attenuation of oxidative and nitro-sative stress, anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing p65 and TNF-α expression, anti-apoptotic effect by suppressing the release of caspase-activating proteins and restoring cell cycle by reduced p21 expression and increased cyclin D1 expression by suppressing ERK1/2 activation, associated with apoptosis and cell cycle arrest [36].
Hepato-protective
The antioxidant potential of stevia can be utilized to alleviate hepatic injury like cirrhosis, hepatic carcinoma which is induced by the oxidative stress. The hepato-protective ability of stevia is confirmed against CCl4 induced and lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in rat and chicken embryo model. The mechanism of CCl4 induced liver injury is its metabolic activation by CYP450 and forms tri-chloro-methyl free radical CCl3. These free radicals stimulate lipid peroxidation, protein covalent binding. Glutathione depletion, and disturbance of calcium and iron ions ultimately leading to cell death. Lipopolysaccharide is an endotoxin, a potent inflammagen and the glycolipid component of the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria. It exerts liver injury by releasing inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor –α), IL-1β, IL-6 (Interleukins) & ROS [37]. The molecular mechanism of hepato-protective action of stevia is induction of Nrf2 pathway which is an endogenous pathway to reduce the level of reactive metabolites. Immunomodulatory action- by inhibiting NF-κβ that leads to the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cascade and thereby prevents necrosis, cholestasis, and preservation of liver parenchyma structure and function [38].
Antibacterial and antifungal activity
Plants have provided a source of inspiration for novel drug compounds to many scientists. Scientists used different solvent extracts (methanol, ethanol, ethylacetate, acetone, petroleumether, chroloform) to investigate the antimicrobial activity of stevia leaves. Stevia is thought to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and other infectious organisms. In some antimicrobial activity screening studies, these extracts exhibited susceptibility enough to inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Aeromonas hydrophila [19]. Antifungal activity was observed against Aspergillusniger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternariasolani. Fusariumoxysporum showed maximum zone of inhibition by methanolic plant extracts of stevia rebaudiana in the study of Arya et al. [39]. Therefore, plant extracts and phytochemicals with known antimicrobial properties can be of great significance in therapeutic treatments. The presence of phytochemicals in leaves might have contributed to the antibacterial activity [21].
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
Conclusion
Stevia rebaudiana has become an important plant that needs to be commercialized without no time because of its medicinal and therapeutic applications. Constituents of honey leaves can be used directly or in raw form by human body and provide various physiological benefits. Dried stevia leaves powder is also a good source of major and minor nutrients and it is also well known as an efficient medication for curing chronic diseases. Future researches also needed to determine its further positive potentials against diseases and to evaluate its accurate daily intake which is suitable for human consumption without causing any negative consequences.
- Review Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Botanical Description of Stevia
- Chemical Description of Stevia
- Phytochemical Constituents
- Nutritional Composition of Stevia Leaves
- Metabolization of Stevia in Human Body
- Caloric Content of Steviosides
- Effects of Steviosides Consumption on Human Health
- Clinical Trials on Stevia rebaudiana
- Medicinal Potential of Stevia
- Conclusion
- References
References
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