Steviol Glycosides Research Articles

Effect of Ethyl Acetate on the Defatting of Leaves in the Extraction of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

The process for producing purified steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana leaves (stevia) generally involves pretreatments, extraction, purification and crystallization. Pre-extraction or defatting can sometimes be a part of this process. It can remove impurities of low polarity, such as chlorophyll and fatty compounds. Nonpolar solvents can be used to defat stevia leaves. In this study, we investigated ethyl acetate as a pre-extraction solvent for the defatting of dried and crushed stevia leaves. We compared pure ethyl acetate and water-saturated ethyl acetate as pre-extraction solvents in percolation extraction. We then evaluated the effects of pre-extraction on the concentration and purity of the extracts obtained with ethanol/water solvents. The recovery of nonpolar solvents was 2.3-3.9 % in pure ethyl acetate and 3.4-4.5 % in water-saturated ethyl acetate (from 40 to 60 °C). A low steviol glycoside loss can occur only with water-saturated ethyl acetate (on dry mass basis <0.5 %). In the Soxhlet extraction, the obtained yields were 8.43 with pure ethyl acetate and 10.44 % with water-saturated ethyl acetate. The steviol glycoside loss in the Soxhlet extraction was 10.70 % with water-saturated ethyl acetate. Defatted and non-defatted leaves were extracted with two ethanol/water solvents. Comparison of the results showed higher concentrations of glycoside in the pretreated leaves. The pre-extraction with ethyl acetate followed by the extraction with ethanol/water solvent lead to a higher concentration of steviol glycosides and a higher purity of the extracts. Ethyl acetate can be used as a pre-extraction solvent for the defatting of stevia leaves in the industrial production of this sweetener.

Single-Molecule Identification and Quantification of Steviol Glycosides with a Deep Learning-Powered Nanopore Sensor.

Steviol glycosides (SGs) are a class of high-potency noncalorie natural sweeteners made up of a common diterpenoid core and varying glycans. Thus, the diversity of glycans in composition, linkage, and isomerism results in the tremendous structural complexity of the SG family, which poses challenges for the precise identification and leads to the fact that SGs are frequently used in mixtures and their variances in biological activity remain largely unexplored. Here we show that a wild-type aerolysin nanopore can detect and discriminate diverse SG species through the modulable electro-osmotic flow effect at varied applied voltages. At low voltages, the neutral SG molecule was drawn and stuck in the pore entrance due to an energy barrier around R220 sites. The ensuing binding events enable the identification of the majority of SG species. Increasing the voltage can break the barrier and cause translocation events, allowing for the unambiguous identification of several pairs of SGs differing by only one hydroxyl group through recognition accumulation from multiple sensing regions and sites. Based on nanopore data of 15 SGs, a deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) model was created to process the individual blockage events, achieving the rapid, automated, and precise single-molecule identification and quantification of SGs in real samples. This work highlights the value of nanopore sensing for precise structural analysis of complex glycans-containing glycosides, as well as the potential for sensitive and rapid quality assurance analysis of glycoside products with the use of AI.

Application of natural sweetener Stevia rebaudiana in the medical field

Steviol glycoside sweeteners have been isolated and produced for hundreds of years in Bertoni, a South American Asteraceae plant prized for its sweetness. Stevia is becoming more popular among consumers and food manufacturers as a result of diabetes, rising obesity rates, and other related comorbidities, as well as global public policies calling for a reduction in intake of sugar to help control these issues. Low-calorie as well as no-calorie sweeteners, such as Stevia, have this appeal because they are plant-based, have no calories, and have a sugary flavour that is 50 to 350 times sweeter than table sugar, making them an excellent as well as suitable choice for use in foods as well as beverages with lower sugar and calorie content. This plant yields steviol glycoside sweeteners, which are isolated and processed. Current studies on Stevia rebaudiana extract, metabolism, tolerable intake, and safety, steviol glycoside extraction and purification, side effects, as well as the toxicity of Stevia extract are discussed in detail.

Determination of steviol glycosides in commercial Soju using UPLC-TQ-MS/MS with product ion confirmation scan (PICS) mode

Steviol glycosides (SGs), derived from Stevia rebaudiana, are of increasing interest as potent low-calorie sweetener. However, there is still unclear regulation for estimating the maximum limit of their usage in food products and daily intakes, due to limited information on quantitative analytical protocols for SGs. In the present study, optimized settings for ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with product ion confirmation scan (PICS) mode for separation and quantitation of all 13 SGs were discussed. As a result, UPLC-TQ-MS/MS method with PICS mode presented excellent linearity (R² > 0.999), limits of detection (0.03–0.04 mg/L), and limits of quantitation (0.09–0.12 mg/L), along with high accuracy (recovery 97.4–105.6 %) and precision (RSD 0.35–3.24 %), within 35 min. The validated method was then applied to analyze 10 commercial Korean distilled liquors, Soju. All Soju samples were diluted with a five-fold volume of the acetonitrile (ACN) and deionized water mixture (3:7, v/v) for further analysis. Mostly, rebaudioside A exhibited the highest content with large variation, while both rebaudioside E and O were the lowest content with the smallest variation. The separation and quantitation methods for SGs can be applied for liquid food quality control and the obtained results can be useful to the guideline for daily amounts of drinking Soju for the public.

The Influence of Sucrose on Biomass and Glycosides Content of Callus Cultured from the Leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni contains diterpenoid steviol glycosides that have no adverse impact on blood sugar levels despite being 300 times sweeter than sugar. This study aimed to investigate the rate of callus induction from stevia leaves and the content of glycosides when changing the sucrose percentage in the culture medium.. Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium supported by 4.0 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 1.0 mg/l benzyl adenine (BA) was used, and different concentrations of sucrose (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6%) were tested .The extraction of glycosides from leaf and callus tissues was performed by using methanol. Extracted glycosides were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed significant influences of sucrose on callus initiation. The concentration of 3% sucrose had the highest fresh and dry weight. No callus was induced in the MS medium with a high concentration of sucrose (5% and 6%). However, the highest glycoside content, stevioside and rebaudioside were obtained from callus treated with 4% concentration followed by 3% sucrose the treatment . The highest fresh and dry weight average was obtained with a 3% concentration of sucrose, this treatment also increased the concentration of glycosides in the callus twice as much as in the leaves, and concentrations of 3% and 4% of sucrose gave very similar concentrations of glycosides in callus in terms of being double what was found in the leaves something which may aid in the development of a stevia glycosides based industry.

In vitro micropropagation and mass multiplication of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, an ancient perennial herb produces steviol glycosides including stevioside and rebaudioside-A that are valuable as low calorie sweeteners, about 300-400 times sweeter than saccharose. Conventional propagation methods are not produce adequate planting material. Micro propagation is an imperative technology that could be extensively exploited to meet the growing demands of elite planting material for commercially cultivated. The prime objective of this study was to established standard protocol for in vitro regeneration and mass multiplication in Stevia. In present investigation, different concentrations of Auxin and Cytokinin were tried for optimization of shoot initiation, shoot multiplication, root initiation and callus induction of Stevia from different explant. BAP and IBA (1.0+0.5) mg/l, IBA (2.0) mg/l shows promising results of shoot multiplication and root initiation respectively.

Modification of glycosyltransferase SrUGT76G1 based on computer-aided screening of mutation sites for efficient synthesis of rebaudioside M

Steviol glycosides (SGs) from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a widely used sweetener with the advantage of high sweet and low in calories. Stevioside (ST) and Rebaudioside A (Reb A) with a bitter aftertaste are the main sweetening components in SGs. Reb M is a highly potency sweetener with almost no bitter aftertaste but is found in low content in S. rebaudiana Bertoni. In this study, the pre- and post-catalytic differences of stevioside glycosyltransferase SrUGT76G1 were investigated through long-time molecular dynamics simulations. SrUGT76G1 was mutated to enhance its efficiency in catalyzing the synthesis of Reb D to Reb M by identifying the enzyme mutation site through an integrated three-in-one approach that combines hinge region analysis, coevolutionary conservation, and energy calculations. The kcat and kcat/Km values of the M88V mutant with Reb D as substrate were 2.18-fold and 4.85-fold higher than those of wild-type SrUGT76G1, respectively. In addition, the M88V mutant coupled with sucrose synthase StSUS1 increased the yield of Reb M synthesis from Reb D to 92.40%. The present study provides an effective method for rapid search for mutation sites in the enzyme and for increasing the yield of Reb M.

Hierarchical Self-Aggregation of Multifunctional Steviol Glycosides in Aqueous Solutions.

Steviol glycosides (SGs) are a natural sweetener widely used in the food and beverage industry, but the low solubility and stability of SG aqueous solutions greatly limit their application performance, especially in liquid formulations. In this work, we explore the solubility behavior of rebaudioside A (Reb A) in water, a major component of SGs, with the aim of clarifying the underlying mechanisms of the solubility and stability constraints of SGs, as well as the impact on their multifunctional properties. We demonstrate for the first time that Reb A exhibits hierarchical self-assembly in solutions, forming spherical micelles first when the concentration exceeds its critical micelle concentration (5.071 mg/mL), which then further assemble into large rod-like aggregates. The formation of such large Reb A aggregates is mainly dominated by hydrogen bonding and short-range Coulomb interaction energy, thus leading to the low solubility and precipitation of Reb A solutions. Surprisingly, aggregated Reb A structures display significantly improved organoleptic properties, revealing that self-aggregation can be developed as a simple, efficient, and green strategy for improving the taste profile of SGs. Additionally, the self-aggregation of Reb A at high concentrations impairs active encapsulation and also affects its interfacial and emulsifying properties.

An comprehensive examination of the therapeutic and dietary attributes of Stevia

Introduction Stevia rebaudiana, an indigenous plant of South America, is becoming increasingly popular because of its potent sweetness obtained from steviol glycosides, which are considerably sweeter than sucrose. Due to its low calorie content and this characteristic, Stevia is considered a favoured sugar alternative in a wide range of food products. In addition to being a substitute for sugar, Stevia provides a range of metabolic benefits. Studies have shown that extracts from this plant have antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic qualities, can control blood glucose and insulin levels, enhance kidney function, and may have potential anticancer effects. The wide range of advantageous characteristics linked to Stevia highlights its promise as a subject for further exploration of its health-promoting effects. This article offers an analysis of scientific research and reliable sources, presenting the metabolic advantages and health impacts of steviol glycosides obtained from Stevia in the human body. Aim of the study This review aims to identify the metabolic benefits of Stevia rebaudiana on the human body. The main objective is to present its action as a component in the fight against obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and cancer cells. Material and method This article presents the current state of knowledge about the range of metabolic benefits of Stevia rebaudiana. Publications describing the effects of Stevia rebaudiana use on the metabolism and health of the human body were reviewed using the PubMed platform. The search included the keywords 'stevia', 'artificial sweetener', 'sugar substitute', 'obesity'.

Long-term metabolic effects of non-nutritive sweeteners

ObjectiveExcessive consumption of added sugars has been linked to the rise in obesity and associated metabolic abnormalities. Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) offer a potential solution to reduce sugar intake, yet their metabolic safety remains debated. This study aimed to systematically assess the long-term metabolic effects of commonly used NNSs under both normal and obesogenic conditions. MethodsTo ensure consistent sweetness level and controlling for the acceptable daily intake (ADI), eight weeks old C57BL/6 male mice were administered with acesulfame K (ace K, 535.25 mg/L), aspartame (411.75 mg/L), sucralose (179.5 mg/L), saccharin (80 mg/L), or steviol glycoside (Reb M, 536.25 mg/L) in the drinking water, on the background of either regular or high-fat diets (in high fat diet 60% of calories from fat). Water or fructose-sweetened water (82.3.gr/L), were used as controls. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters, as well as microbiome composition, were analyzed following 20-weeks of exposure. ResultsUnder a regular chow diet, chronic NNS consumption did not significantly affect body weight, fat mass, or glucose metabolism as compared to water consumption, with aspartame demonstrating decreased glucose tolerance. In diet-induced obesity, NNS exposure did not increase body weight or alter food intake. Exposure to sucralose and Reb M led to improved insulin sensitivity and decreased weight gain. Reb M specifically was associated with increased prevalence of colonic Lachnospiracea bacteria. ConclusionsLong-term consumption of commonly used NNSs does not induce adverse metabolic effects, with Reb M demonstrating a mild improvement in metabolic abnormalities. These findings provide valuable insights into the metabolic impact of different NNSs, aiding in the development of strategies to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Effects of Steviol Glycosides on Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Diversity of Hu Sheep.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the potential effects of steviol glycosides on growth performance, rumen fermentation processes, and microbial diversity in Hu sheep. A single-factor design was used for the trial. Twenty healthy weaned Hu lambs, possessing comparable body weights averaging 18.31 ± 1.24 kg, were randomly allocated into two distinct groups: the control group (CON) and the experimental group (STE), with each comprising 10 lambs. The CON was fed the basal diet, and the STE was supplemented with 0.07% steviol glycosides based on the basal diet. During the experimental period, variations in body weight and feed intake were closely monitored and recorded. After feeding for 90 d, blood was collected to determine blood biochemical indices, and rumen fluid samples were gathered for an in-depth analysis of rumen fermentation parameters and microbial diversity. The outcomes revealed no statistically significant differences in growth performance or serum biochemical indices between the two groups (p > 0.05). Rumen pH in STE and CON was within the normal range. The rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and acetic acid (AA) content of STE decreased significantly compared with CON (p < 0.05). No significant variations were observed in the levels of other volatile fatty acids (VFAs) between the two groups (p > 0.05). The rumen microbial OTUs count, as well as the Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and Ace indices, were notably lower in the STE group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria collectively accounted for over 97% of the total phylum composition. In comparison to the CON group, the STE group exhibited an increase in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (p < 0.05), accompanied by a significant reduction in the relative abundance of Patescibacteria and Desulfobacteria (p < 0.05). At the genus level, there was a notable increase in the relative abundance of Prevotella_7 and Succinivibrionaceae_UCG_001 in the STE group, whereas the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group significantly decreased (p < 0.05). According to the correlation analysis between rumen microflora and VFAs, the relative abundance of Succinivibrionaceae_UCG_001 displayed a significant negative correlation with AA (p < 0.05), whereas Lactobacillus exhibited a notable positive correlation with isobutyric acid (IBA) (p < 0.05). In summary, steviol glycosides had no significant effect on the production performance and blood biochemical indexes of Hu sheep. Steviol glycosides can improve rumen fermentation parameters and rumen microflora structure of Hu sheep and have a certain effect on rumen microbial diversity and composition.

Highly Efficient Biosynthesis of Rebaudioside M8 through Structure-Guided Engineering of Glycosyltransferase UGT94E13.

Given the low-calorie, high-sweetness characteristics of steviol glycosides (SGs), developing SGs with improved taste profiles is a key focus. Rebaudioside M8 (Reb M8), a novel non-natural SG derivative obtained through glycosylation at the C-13 position of rebaudioside D (Reb D) using glycosyltransferase UGT94E13, holds promise for further development due to its enhanced sweetness. However, the low catalytic activity of UGT94E13 hampers further research and commercialization. This study aimed to improve the enzymatic activity of UGT94E13 through semirational design, and a variant UGT94E13-F169G/I185G was obtained with the catalytic activity improved by 13.90 times. A cascade reaction involving UGT94E13-F169G/I185G and sucrose synthase AtSuSy was established to recycle uridine diphosphate glucose, resulting in an efficient preparation of Reb M8 with a yield of 98%. Moreover, according to the analysis of the distances between the substrate Reb D and enzymes as well as between Reb D and the glucose donor through molecular dynamics simulations, it is found that the positive effect of shortening the distance on glycosylation reaction activity accounts for the improved catalytic activity of UGT94E13-F169G/I185G. Therefore, this study addresses the bottleneck in the efficient production of Reb M8 and provides a foundation for its widespread application in the food industry.

In vitro Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity of Stevioside in Human Osteosarcoma Cell Lines (Sarcoma Osteogenic).

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that primarily affects the long bones of the body, such as the arms and legs. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells in the bone tissue, leading to the formation of abnormal and painful bone masses. Steviol glycosides have been widely used as natural noncalorie sweeteners and are the collective name of the sweet substances found naturally in the plant Stevia rebaudiana, which is commonly called Stevia. Our study aimed to analyze the anticancer activity of Stevioside in OS. Stevioside was applied to OS cells, and the levels of Bcl xL, Bcl-2, and Bax were then estimated. The results of three separate studies, each carried out in triplicate, were expressed as the mean ± standard errors of the mean (SEM). One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The findings showed that the effect of Stevioside on sarcoma osteogenic cells with mean ± SEM as 0.74 ± 0.05, 0.69 ± 0.09, 0.46 ± 0.09 for Bcl-xL gene, 0.98 ± 0.06, 0.58 ± 0.07, 0.5 ± 0.07 for Bcl-2 gene, and 1.2 ± 0.08, 1.45 ± 0.11, 1.67 ± 0.12 for Bax gene, respectively, when treated with untreated control cells. The study concludes its action against bone OS cells was significant with apoptotic induction. Stevia has a wide range of health benefits as well as being a plant-based diet it has less of side effects and promoting features even by intaking it daily along with other medicines.

Effect of Exogenous Application of Plant Extracts in Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenols and Steviol glycosides Content of Stevia Plant Under Abiotic Stress Conditions

Effect of Exogenous Application of Plant Extracts in Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenols and Steviol glycosides Content of Stevia Plant Under Abiotic Stress Conditions

Determination of high-intensity sweeteners in bakery products marketed in Brazil and dietary exposure assessment

Bakery products, including biscuits, cakes and breads, generally present a high content of simple sugars of rapid absorption, high fat content and low amount of dietary fiber, which make them highly caloric foods. Although sucrose is a very important ingredient in bakery products for its preservation characteristics and a significant source of energy, there is a growing interest in replacing this sugar with alternative substances, such as high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) that provide sweetness with no or low calories. In Brazil, there is no data on the use of HIS in this class of food. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of HIS in baked food commercially available in the country and estimate the dietary exposure to these food additives. For that, an analytical method was established for the simultaneous determination of nine HIS in bakery products using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Sample preparation steps were required based on mechanical kneading for homogenization, hexane extraction of fats, dilution in mobile phase and vortex homogenization, prior to injection into the system. The results obtained during validation showed that coefficients of variation (CV%) for precision were lower than 13.8% and the accuracy was between 91.6% and 109.1%. Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium cyclamate, saccharin, sucralose and steviol glycosides were found in the samples, used alone or in combinations of up five substances. Steviol glycosides were the most found HIS in biscuit samples, while sucralose was the most common sweetener in cake and bread samples. Analysis of product labels revealed only three different claims, .i.e. ‘no sugar’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘zero sugar’, with the latter being found in 70% of the samples. Exposure to HIS through the consumption of bakery products estimated per eating occasion showed no concerns regarding toxicological risk.

Changes in the rumen development, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota community in weaned calves during steviol glycosides treatment.

Early weaning leads to weaning stress in calves, which hinders healthy growth and development. As an excellent sweetener applied in food, steviol glycosides (STE) has also been shown to exhibit positive biological activity in monogastric animals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of incorporating STE as a dietary supplement on rumen development, fermentation, and microbiota of rumen in weaned calves. This study selected 24 healthy Holstein bull calves and randomly allocated them into two groups (CON and STE). The results indicated that supplementation STE group improved rumen development in weaned calves, as demonstrated by a marked increase in the weight of the rumen, as well as the length and surface area of the rumen papilla. Compared with the CON group, the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), propionate, butyrate, and valerate were higher in the STE group. Moreover, STE treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria at the phylum level. At the genus level, the STE group showed a significantly increased relative abundance of Succiniclasticum, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Olsenella, and a decreased relative abundance of Acinetobacter compared to the CON group. Pusillimonas, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Olsenella, and Succiniclasticum were significantly enriched in rumen chyme after supplementation with STE, as demonstrated by LEfSe analysis. Overall, our findings revealed that rumen bacterial communities altered in response to the dietary supplementation with STE, and some bacterial taxa in these communities may have positive effects on rumen development during this period.

Influence of solvent type and leaf moisture on extraction efficiency of major steviol glycosides in stevia (var. Levent 93) plant

AbstractSteviol glycosides (SGs) are natural sweeteners derived from stevia leaves, which have various applications in food and beverage products. The extraction efficiency of SGs depends on several factors, such as solvent type, solid to solvent ratio, centrifugal force, and temperature. This study aimed to compare the effects of different solvents (ethanol and water) and leaf moisture (dry and fresh) on the extraction efficiency of major steviol glycosides (SGs) of rebaudioside A (Reb A), stevioside (ST), and rebaudioside C (Reb C) in stevia (var. Levent 93) plant. A Box–Behnken design was used to optimise the extraction parameters for each extraction type. The results showed that ethanol was a more effective solvent than water, however, aqueous extraction was more environmentally friendly and low-cost, and could also yield high concentrations of SGs when fresh leaves were used. The major SGs had similar concentrations in ethanolic extraction, but Reb A was twice as high as ST in aqueous extraction. Reb C was influenced by the solid to solvent ratio in both extraction types, but more so in water extraction. Temperature had a positive effect on ST and Reb C in water extraction of fresh leaves, but not in water extraction of dry leaves or ethanolic extraction. The results of this study contribute to the optimisation of SGs extraction from stevia leaves and provide insights for future research on the effects of different solvents and extraction parameters on the quality and purity of SGs.

Irrigation Practice in Cultivation of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni in Cooler Climates—Case Study in Poland

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni originated in South America, but has gained popularity due to the concentration of sweet steviol glycosides present in its leaves. Stevia is also currently grown on other continents in many countries characterised with warm climate. This research aimed to determine whether different irrigation practices might have a significant influence on the yield and composition of the leaves of stevia plants grown in Poland, in cooler climate than native regions for stevia plants. Stevia plants were grown with four different irrigation regimes: irrigation twice a week, irrigation once a week, irrigation only during times of the drought and not irrigated at all. It was determined that different irrigation regimes have substantial effects on the yield, biometric characteristics and chemical composition of stevia leaves, but none of the irrigation regimes were clearly supreme to the others. Yield of stevia plants that were irrigated once a week or only during the drought times was the highest (2.42–2.58 kg per square meter). Stevia plants that were not irrigated were characterised with the lowest height and lateral width (47.61 and 25.35 cm). Leaves of un-irrigated stevia contained the greatest dry mass content (30.47%) and highest concentration of phenolic compounds (337.88 mg per 100 g of fresh stevia leaves). Stevia plants that were irrigated once or twice a week were characterised with a lower concentration of chlorophylls or carotenoids at the time of the harvest (1.20–1.24 and 2.54–2.58 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves), but stevia plants that were not irrigated contained a greater amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids (1.58 and 3.17 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves).

A Computational Approach to Understanding and Predicting the Edulcorant Profile of Glucosyl Steviol Glycosides.

Understanding the edulcorant profile of synthetic glucosyl steviol glycosides (GSGs) and rare natural steviol glycosides (SGs) is challenging due to their numerous species and rareness. This study developed a computational model based on the interactions of SG molecules with human sweet and bitter taste receptors (hSTR/hBTR). The models demonstrated a high correlation between the cumulative interaction energies and the perceived sweetness of SGs (R2 = 0.97), elucidating the mechanism of the diverse sweetness of SGs. It also revealed that more (within three) glucose residues at the C-13 position of the SG molecule yield stronger sweetness and weaker bitterness. Furthermore, the computational prediction was consistently validated with the known sweetness of GSG and also aligned well with that of several natural mogrosides. Thus, this model possesses a potential to predict the sweetness of SGs, GSGs, and mogrosides, facilitating the application or targeted synthesis of GSGs with desired sensory profiles.

Effect of Salicylic Acid Treatment on Agro-Morphological Performances, Mineral Nutrition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Steviol Glycosides Content of Stevia Subjected to Salt Stress

Effect of Salicylic Acid Treatment on Agro-Morphological Performances, Mineral Nutrition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Steviol Glycosides Content of Stevia Subjected to Salt Stress