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Sweeteners pp 101–128Cite as

Steviol Glycosides: Natural Noncaloric Sweeteners

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Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

Steviol glycosides are a group of highly sweet diterpene glycosides isolated in only a few plant species of the Paraguayan shrub Stevia rebaudiana. Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the most abundant steviol glycosides which are responsible for its sweet taste and have commercial value all over the world as sugar substitute in foods, beverages, or medicines. More than 30 additional steviol glycosides have been described in the scientific literature to date implies a significant metabolic investment and poses questions regarding the benefits S. rebaudiana might gain from their accumulation. Due to the increase in demand for the major constituents in the leaves of S. rebaudiana, it is now grown commercially in a number of countries, particularly in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. It is a magical plant that offers sweetness with fewer calories and do not show any side effects after consumption on human health. They are thermostable even at higher temperatures making them suitable for use in cooked foods. Stevia cultivation and production would further help those who have to restrict carbohydrate intake in their diet, to enjoy the sweet taste with minimal or no-calories. During the past few decades, the nutritional and pharmacological benefits of these secondary metabolites have become increasingly apparent. While these properties are now widely recognized, many aspects related to their in vivo biochemistry and metabolism and their relationship to the overall plant physiology of S. rebaudiana are not yet understood.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA

    Indra Prakash

  2. Wisdom Natural Brands, Gilbert, AZ, 85233, USA

    Venkata Sai Prakash Chaturvedula

Authors
  1. Indra Prakash
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  2. Venkata Sai Prakash Chaturvedula
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Indra Prakash .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

  2. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

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Prakash, I., Chaturvedula, V.S.P. (2018). Steviol Glycosides: Natural Noncaloric Sweeteners. In: Mérillon, JM., Ramawat, K. (eds) Sweeteners. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27027-2_9

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