Nutritional and therapeutic perspectives of <i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> as emerging sweetener; a way forward for sweetener industry

Today's well-informed consumer is demanding health promoting foods which not only have natural ingredients and are additive free, but also offer functional properties without compromising on the taste. Excessive consumption of sugar is a leading cause of non-communicable diseases, globally. Not more than 10% of the calories should be derived from sugar for optimal health. This has led to the increase in demand of food products containing sugar free alternatives. Therefore, naturally occurring non-nutritive sweeteners that have positive effects on the body weight as well as metabolism may facilitate in limiting the sugar intake and accomplishing the present recommendations. They are also an excellent alternative both for the consumers as well as the food industry in place of artificial sweeteners. These natural sweeteners are extracted from indigenous plants, provide insignificant calories, taste like sucrose, do not exhibit metallic after taste, and moreover, offer significant health benefits. The steviol glycosides and Luo Han Guo fruit (Monk fruit) are the natural extracts of plants, which are commercialized. In addition, numerous plant proteins such as thaumatin, brazzein, miraculin and several carbohydrates as rare sugars such as D-tagatose, D-allulose, D-sorbose and D-allose are being explored as potential substitutes to intense sweeteners which are reviewed in this paper. These are being extensively studied by the researchers for their physicochemical and functional properties and their possible use in low-calorie food formulations. They have a history of safe consumption by the natives of the country of their origin and have a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) or a novel food status.

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“…Stevioside and rebaudioside A do not caramelize when food products are subjected to high temperatures. (Muhammad, F. et al, 2020) [55] .…”

Section: Steviol Glycosidesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Naturally occurring non-nutritive sweeteners: A review

Rao¹,

Rizwana²,

Lalmuanpuia³

et al. 2021

Int. J. Appl. Res.

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“…In contrast, natural sweeteners could decrease hyperglycemia and enhance the metabolism of lipids [22]. Stevia rebaudiana, which belongs to an emerging resource of natural sweeteners, a review supported the positive effects of bioactive substances in stevia on fighting against cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood pressure, and it indicated it could normalize and regulate blood pressure [23]. Similarly, researchers were also interested in how stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and its secondary metabolites may affect the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases.…”

Section: Cardiometabolic Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sugar substitutes on health concerns and corresponding mechanisms related to gut microbiota

Fang

Wang

Ying

2023

Second International Conference on Biological Engineering and Medical Science (ICBioMed 2022)

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Due to the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes, it is recommended to reduce sugar consumption. Sweeteners are used widely as sugar substitutes since they duplicate the taste of normal sugar but have no or low calories. In addition to their supposed role in reducing caloric intake and controlling weight, a growing body of research disputing their effects on physical health. Some studies suggest artificial sweeteners may contribute to type 2 diabetes and obesity, and cardiovascular disease through several mechanisms such as insulin resistance and disrupting of gastrointestinal microflora. People should consider more intake of natural sweeteners as they take part in gene mutation and can be used by people with diabetes and the general population. However, artificial sweeteners, specifically aspartame, are probably linked to cancer risk. Although the carcinogenic mechanism has not been defined clearly yet, and further human-based studies should be done, there is a need for caution in the consumption of artificial sweeteners.

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“…Stevia rebaudiana (S. rebaudiana) is an annual natural herb that is used as a potent natural sweetener in a variety of foods, drinks, and pharmaceuticals [3], where Stevia leaf extract demonstrated greater sweetness than sucrose [4]. In addition, Stevia can be regarded as safe for human consumption because no harm has been linked to it throughout the years [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stevia rebaudiana Methanolic Leaf Extract in Egypt: Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antilipid Peroxidation, Antihemolytic, Antimetastatic, and Anticancer Properties

Hanna

Osailan

Ahmed

2023

Journal of Food Biochemistry

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The phenolic and flavonoid content of the Stevia rebaudiana hydromethanolic extract (SRHME) was examined, and phytochemical identification using GC-mass spectrometry was achieved. Also, the antioxidant, antihemolytic, and antilipid peroxidation capabilities of the extract were assessed. The extract’s potential to induce apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation, and reduce metastasis in SKVO3 cells was also checked. The findings of the GC-MS chromatogram demonstrated the existence of bioactive antioxidants and anticancer components in SRHME. Moreover, the extract demonstrated protection against cellular oxidative damage in human erythrocytes by preventing lipid peroxidation and hemolysis. Besides, SRHME demonstrated a selective cytotoxic effect with a strong IC50 value (17.5 µg/ml) on SKVO3 cells without any harmful effects on normal WI-38 cells using the MTT and LDH tests. Additionally, according to assays for wound healing and transwell chamber, the studied extract suppressed the ability of SKOV3 cells from migrating and invading, respectively. Also, the extract-treated SKVO3 cells showed rise in the percentage of apoptotic cells with a prominent comet nucleus, according to apoptotic assays in comparison to untreated cells. Furthermore, a flow cytometry analysis of SRHME-treated SKVO3 cells showed a halt in the S phase and an increase in sub-G1 apoptotic cells (25.44%). Also, the tested extract significantly decreased the levels of ROS in the treated cells, indicating that ROS was involved in the production of SKVO3 apoptosis. Lastly, SRHME strongly impacted the expression levels of proteins related to apoptosis, S-phase cell cycle arrest, and antimetastatic capacity in the treated SKVO3 cells.

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Nutritional and therapeutic perspectives of Stevia rebaudiana as emerging sweetener; a way forward for sweetener industry

Cited by 28 publications

References 109 publications

Naturally occurring non-nutritive sweeteners: A review

Naturally occurring non-nutritive sweeteners: A review

Effects of sugar substitutes on health concerns and corresponding mechanisms related to gut microbiota

Stevia rebaudiana Methanolic Leaf Extract in Egypt: Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antilipid Peroxidation, Antihemolytic, Antimetastatic, and Anticancer Properties

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