Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, an American plant used as sweetener: Study of its effects on body mass control and glycemia reduction in Wistar male and female rats

Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni water extracts have been used as a natural sweetener and customary medicine by the indigenous inhabitants of South America for several hundred years. This plant was sent to Europe in the 16th century and was described by Peter Jacob Esteve in Spain. Recently the food industry has started to employ S. rebaudiana as sweetener using its glycosides after purification. Advertisement claims that Stevia glycosides is good for controling body mass and reducing glycemia. This study’s objective was to evaluate the effect of S. rebaudiana leaf extract on Wistar rats as animal model to prove its effectiveness on body mass control, glycemia reduction, and other biochemical parameters. Three groups were randomly formed with 24 males and 24 females: A blank group without any sweetener, a control group drinking water with 10% glucose, and the test group ingesting a 0.94% water extract of S. rebaudiana. Body mass measurements as well as food and drink consumption were daily performed. The experiment lasted 120 days after the specimens were weaned and got used to eating solid food. Euthanasia was done and blood serum was collected to evaluate the following biochemical parameters: Glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucagon, leptin, ghrelin, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, GIP. Results indicated that only female rats had statistical differences in body mass gain. No relevant effects either positive or negative were found in the biochemical parameters measured. The crude extracts of S. rebaudiana did not show any relevant changes in biochemical and hormonal profiles, changes nor body mass with respect to the blank and control groups of young and healthy rats in the age range of infancy to youth. According to the results obtained, the therapeutic properties that have been associated to S. rebaudiana consumption especially for body mass control and glycemia reduction, did not occur in young and healthy male and female rats in equivalent age to infants, young children, and youths.

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“…However, increases in calories from chow consumption efficiently compensated for declines in calories from yogurt in such a manner that there was a comparable overall calorie consumption amongst all groups next to the 3-month duration of the experimentation [ 68 ]. Male Wistar rats, which received Stevia rebaudiana dry leaves infusion at a concentration of 0.94% concurrently with the diet, did not show any considerable alterations compared to the other groups in body mass (326–401 g/male rat) [ 166 ]. The intake of a per-day infusion of Stevia rebaudiana dry leaves did not exert any beneficial or harmful impact on the decrease in body mass [ 166 ].…”

“…Male Wistar rats, which received Stevia rebaudiana dry leaves infusion at a concentration of 0.94% concurrently with the diet, did not show any considerable alterations compared to the other groups in body mass (326–401 g/male rat) [ 166 ]. The intake of a per-day infusion of Stevia rebaudiana dry leaves did not exert any beneficial or harmful impact on the decrease in body mass [ 166 ]. Hence, it is highly recommended that long-term prospective surveys be accomplished in order for more reliable and accurate conclusions to be drawn.…”