Abstract
Stevia is a genus of approx. 200 species of herbs and shrubs from the family Astraceae. One of the representatives of the genus is sweetleaf Stevia rebaudiana, formerly called Eupatorium rebaudianum Bertoni (Yadav et al. in Can J Plant Sci 91:1–27, 2011). S. rebaudiana Bertoni has been known for many centuries by indigenous tribes of South America, who called it “kaa-hee” (sweet herb). South American Indians used stevia both as a sweetener and as a medicinal plant. Folk medicine of Paraguayan indigenous tribes recommends it particularly as a substance strengthening the heart, the circulatory system and regulating blood pressure. Sweetleaf is also used in liver disease, stomachache, gastric hyperacidity and as a mild agent stimulating the nervous system. It exhibits antibacterial, antifungal and anticaries properties. Nutritive and health-promoting properties of stevia are presently being investigated in many research centres. The aim of this paper is to present the health-promoting value of S. rebaudiana as stevia leaf powder, crude leaf extract or steviol glycosides (highly purified stevioside, rebaudioside A).
Highlights
Stevia is a genus of approx. 200 species of herbs and shrubs from the family Astraceae
The aim of this paper is to present the health-promoting value of S. rebaudiana as stevia leaf powder, crude leaf extract or steviol glycosides
The hypotensive effect of stevioside was observed in a study by Chan et al (2000) conducted with the participation of 106 women aged 28–75 years suffering from hypertension, who for 1 year were administered 0.25 g stevioside three times daily
Summary
The energy value of stevia is approx. 2.7 kcal/g dry matter (Savita et al 2004), which is comparable to other low-caloric commercially available intensive sweeteners. The energy value of stevia is approx. Stevia may substitute commonly used sucrose, reducing the consumption of simple sugars, which is advisable in the prevention of caries, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other civilisationrelated diseases. Steviol glycosides are not digested in the alimentary tract, they are broken down to steviol and glucose by the bacteria colonising the large intestine. Glucose released is not absorbed to the bloodstream, but metabolized by the intestinal flora. Acceptable daily intake of steviol glycosides, expressed as steviol equivalents, was established at 4 mg/kg b.w. per day. Most researchers are of the opinion that a daily intake of 5 mg/kg b.w. per day of steviol glycosides is safe and has no teratogenic or carcinogenic effects (Chatsudthipong and Muanprasat 2009; Awney et al 2011). A study by Awney et al (2011) conducted on young male rats showed that only a dose as high as 1500 mg/kg b.w. exhibits toxic action and has a negative effect on hematological and biochemical parameters of the blood and enzyme activity
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