Scientific names | Common names |
Eupatorium rebaudiana Bertoni | Candy leaf (Engl.) |
Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni | Honey yerba (Engl.) |
Sweet herb (Engl.) | |
Sweet honey leaf (Engl.) | |
Sweet leaf (Engl.) | |
Sweet leaf of Paraguay (Engl.) | |
Stevia (Engl.) |
Other vernacular names |
CHINESE: Tian ju ye. |
INDIA: Meethi patti. |
PARAGUAY: Kaa jhee. |
SPANISH: Yerba dulce |
General information of Stevia
A South American plant popular as a natural sweetening agent and dietary supplement. It was discovered in Paraguay in 1887 and is native to Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia and Paraguay where it has been used for over 1000 years to sweeten unpleasant tasting medicinal drinks.
It is a potential natural alternative to artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame or sodium saccharin), but it has been involved in a tug-o-war of controversy.
In December 2008, the United States FDA permitted Rebiana-based sweeteners as food additive. Widely used in Japan, China, Korea, Israel and South American countries, It is available in the U.S. as a dietary supplement.
Stevia is a genus of approximately 200 species native to South America; however, no other exhibits the S. rebaudian’s intensity of sweetness.
Distribution of Stevia
– Recently introduced and cultivated for its sweet leaves.
– Commercially cultivated in Philippines, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Central America, Thailand and China.
Chemical Constituents of Stevia
• The sweetness in stevia is mainly attributed to two compounds viz stevioside (3-10% of dry leaf weight) and rebaudioside A (1-3%) which can be up to 250 times sweeter than sucrose.
• Proximate analysis of dried leaves (g/100 g dry weight basis) yielded moisture (4.65-5.37), protein (10-20.4), fat (1.9-5.6), ash (6.3-15.5), carbohydrate (35.2-61.9), crude fiber (6.8-15.2). (14)
• Fatty acid composition of leaf oil (g/100g) was palmitic acid 27.51-29.5, palmitoleic acid 1.27-3.0, stearic acid 1.18-4.0, oleic acid 4.36-9.9, linoleic acid 12.40-16.8, and linolenic acid 21.59-36.2. (14)
• Study on amino acid constituents yielded arginine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, methionine, valine, threonin, and isoleucine. Non-essential amino acids were aspartate, serine, glutamic, proline, glycine, alanine, cystein, and tyrosine. (14)
• Various sweet glycosides isolated from Stevia leaves are stevioside, steviol, steviolbioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, and dulcoside A.
• Proximate composition of stevia leaves (g%) yielded protein 20.42±0.57, fat 4.34±0.02, carbohydrates 35.20±1.26, ash 13.12±0.31. (21)
• Study on mineral content of leaves yielded potassium 2.51g%, calcium 1.55g%, magnesium 0.50g%, phosphorus 0.35g%, sodium 0.16g%, sulphur 0.12g%, iron 363.00 ppm, manganese 98.30 ppm, zinc 63.90 ppm, copper 10.40 ppm, molybdenum 1.14 ppm, selenium 0.57 ppm, cobalt 0.27 ppm. (21)
• Study of phytochemical constituents of leaves yielded tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, sterols and triterpenes, reducing compounds, anthraquinones, cyanogenetic glycosides. (21)
Medicinal Properties of Stevia
• Estimated to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar while dry stevia leaf is up to 30 times sweeter than sucrose.
• Stevioside, a natural plant glycoside, has been shown to have blood lowering effects.
• Studies have suggested antibacterial, antifungal, anticaries, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory properties.
Parts used
Leaves
Uses
Edibility of Stevia plant
– Leaves are eaten raw or cooked.
– In South America, leaves used for centuries to sweeten tea.
– Leaves can be dried and ground and used sweetener.
Folkloric traditional medicinal benefits and uses of Stevia
-Stevia plant has been used for diabetes, candidiasis, high blood pressure, skin abrasions.
– In South America, used for diabetes, cavities, depression, hypertension, obesity, wound healing and as tonic and sweetener.
Common Use of Stevia
Its crude leaf form is used as sweetener in foods and beverages.
Preparations with Stevia :
How to use Fresh stevia
(1) Add several leaves to a cup of hot liquid. (About 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh leaves equal one cup of sugar or 1 tsp of processed Stevia extract powder.)
(2) Fresh whole leaf extract: Steep a tea ball packed with fresh stevia leaves in just-boiled water for 30 minutes. Add the liquid to foods where its green color is compatible.
How to use Dried stevia
(1) Dry in a warm dark and dry area.
(2) Grind the dry leaves to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container away from light.
(3) One tablespoon of dried powder equals a cup of sugar or 1 tsp of processed Stevia extract powder.
Stevia in the News !
• Truvia and PureVia, purified forms of stevia, rebaudioside A, was recently approved by the FDA for use sweetener in foods and beverages. Coca-cola and Pepsico will soon be launching stevia-sweetened products.
• Some reported side effects: muscle pain and weakness, dizziness, nausea and abdominal fullness which usually resolve after a week of use.
Scientific studies on the benefits and uses of Stevia
• Anti-inflammatory:
Of the 100 methanol extracts from spices studied, hop, stevia, cinnamon, tumeric, mate, mint, New Zealand spinach, watercress, tomato and radish seedling showed marked inhibition of inflammatory activity induced by TPA in mice. Two active compounds, humulone and lupeol 3-palmitate were separated from hop and stevia, respectively.(3)
• Renal Effects on Chronic Administration:
Administration of crude extract of Stevia dried leaves for 40 to 60 days induced systemic and renal vasodilation causing hypotension, diuresis and natriuresis. (4)
• Anti-Hypertension:
(1) Using stevioside capsules (Nan Kai Chemical Factory, Tien Jing, China) 250 mg 3 times daily, the study found stevioside to be a safe and effective compound or supplementary therapy for hypertension.
(2) Study showed stevioside caused vasorelaxation through an inhibition of Ca influx into the blood vessels. (5)
• Antioxidant:
Study of ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves indicate Stevia rebaudiana may be a useful as a potential source of natural antioxidants. (6)
Study showed that stevia, besides its sweetness, can act as a source of antioxidants, even at the intracellular level. (19)
• Stevioside / Anti-Diabetic:
Study on STZ-induced diabetes in rats showed stevioside lowered blood glucose. It dose-dependently decreased the protein levels of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase, reduced insulin resistance in diabetic animals.
Study concludes stevioside regulates blood glucose by enhancing insulin secretion and insulin utilization in insulin-deficient rats. (8)
• Powdered Form / Anti-Diabetic / Weight Reducing:
Study of powdered form of Stevia leaves on STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant hypoglycemic effects and body weight reducing effects.
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Tumor Activities:
Four solvent extracts showed effective antibacterial potential. The acetone extract showed no toxicity to normal cells and showed both anti-proliferative and anticancer activities. Study confirms the antimicrobial and antitumor activities of various Stevia rebaudiana leaf extracts, suggesting a potential drug that warrants further studies and development. (9)
• Glucose Tolerance Effect:
Study on the effects of aqueous extracts of S rebaudiana leaves on glucose tolerance in normal volunteers showed an increase in glucose tolerance, with a significant decrease of plasma glucose during the test and after overnight fasting in all volunteers. (10)
• Stevioside / Rebaudioside A:
Toxicological studies have shown that stevioside does not have mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects. General and reproductive studies on toxicity of rebaudioside A showed safety at high dietary intake levels. (16)
• Antioxidant / Anti-Diabetic / Renal Protective:
Study evaluated the effects of stevia leaves and its extracted polyphenols and fiber on STZ induced diabetic rats. Results showed, besides its hypoglycemic effect, a significant role in reducing risk of oxidative stress and alleviating liver and kidney damage in STZ induced diabetic rats. (17)
• Male Fertility Effects:
Study on prepubertal rats showed chronic administration of Stevia rebaudiana extract tended to decrease plasma testosterone levels probably a putative affinity of glycosides of the extract for a certain androgen receptor. Results suggest extracts may decrease fertility of male rats. (18)
• Potential Use in Animal Feeds:
The nutritional profile of stevia plant shows high levels of protein and gross energy that may be suitable for ruminant animals. It has a potential for use as energy diluent in monogastric diets due to slow ME and non-caloric nature. (20)
• Antibacterial / Wound Infected Pathogens:
Study evaluated crude extracts and various solvent for antibacterial activity against wound infected pathogens. Highest inhibition zone was seen with the ethanol extract followed by chloroform, ether, and hexane. Staphylococcus was significantly suppressed followed by K. pneumonia, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. (22)
• Hypoglycemic and Body Weight Reducing / Powdered Stevia:
Study evaluated the effects of powdered form of Stevia leaves on blood glucose concentration and body weight in STZ induced diabetic rats. Results showed significant hypoglycemic effects. There was also a decrease in body weight, although not significant, compared to Glimepiride which increased body weight significantly. The body weight reducing effect of Stevia leaves powder may be due to inhibition of glucose from the intestine as well as induction of gluconeogenesis in the liver and muscles. (23)
• Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel / Leaves:
Study showed the extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves could serve as an effective inhibitor of mild steel in sulphuric media. Â (24)
• Anticariogenic / Periodontal Effects:
Review describes the anti-cariogenic and anti-periodontophatic properties of Stevia extracts. Stevia presents properties that are potentially anti-caries and anti-periodontal disease. Stevia is postulated as a potential therapeutic complement in odontological care, especially in patients with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. (25)
• Study on Female Reproductive Effect:
Study of oral intake of water-based stevia extract and stevioside at doses of 500 mg/kbw and 800 mg/kbw, respectively, did not cause any significant female reproductive toxic effect in Swiss albino mice. Â (26)
• Inhibitory Effect on S. mutans and L. acidophilus / Compared to Chlorhexidine:
The inhibitory effect of an alcoholic Stevia extract against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus was superior to the aqueous form, but inferior when compared to chlorhexidine. Â (27)
• Hepatoprotective / Leaves:
Study showed the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Stevia rebaudiana against thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity. (28)
Availability
Wildcrafted leaf form.
Limited commercial availability in powder and liquid form.
Recently approved: Truvia and PureVia.
Click here to find the links of all the source studies mentioned in this article.
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