Abstract
This study compares the content of basic nutrients (proteins, fats, digestible carbohydrates, dietary fiber and ash), steviol glycosides, selected antioxidants (vitamin C, total polyphenols) and antioxidant activity in dried leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni cultivated in Poland, Paraguay and Brazil and available in the direct sale. The basic chemical composition was determined by standard AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) methods. Content of steviol glycosides was determined by the UHPLC-UV chromatographic method. Total polyphenols content was expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and catechins equivalent (CE). Antioxidant activity was measured as ABTS●+ free radical scavenging activity. Dried leaves of S. rebaudiana grown in Poland had significantly higher contents of dietary fiber, and lower protein and ash content, compared to those derived from Paraguay and Brazil. The former had, however, considerably higher contents of total steviol glycosides, stevioside and rebaudioside D, compared to the remaining two plants. In the Paraguay-derived dried leaves, the content of rebaudioside A, C, E and rubusoside was found to be significantly lower. Dried leaves of S. rebaudiana Bertoni, cultivated in Poland, contained substantially more vitamin C and a similar content of total polyphenols, compared to those from Brazil and Paraguay. The examined material from Brazil and Paraguay plantations showed similar antioxidant activity, while that obtained from Polish cultivation was characterized by a significantly lower value of this parameter.
Highlights
The increase in the incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which has been observed for many years, is mainly associated with obesity
Analyses of the basic chemical composition were made in duplicate, but steviol glycosides, vitamin C, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were done in triplicate (Figure 1)
This study revealed that dried leaves of S. rebaudiana Bertoni, from foreign and domestic crops, had a similar (~99.5 g/100 g) dry matter content (p > 0.05) (Table 1)
Summary
The increase in the incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which has been observed for many years, is mainly associated with obesity. Studies have shown that S. rebaudiana is a good source of total carbohydrates (including dietary fiber), minerals and contains a number of secondary metabolites, such as pigments or phenolic compounds. The latter, with a role other than nutritional, are not considered essential for the body functioning. The aim of this study was to compare the content of basic chemical composition (fats, proteins, digestible carbohydrates, dietary fiber and ash), steviol glycosides, selected antioxidants (vitamin C, total polyphenols) and the antioxidant activity of dried leaves of S. rebaudiana from Polish, Paraguayan and Brazilian cultivations
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