What Are Steviol Glycosides And What Are Their Uses?

Stevia extract is a pure natural and extremely sweet sweetener that does not affect blood sugar levels – steviol glycosides. 

Basic information

[Name]: Stevia extract, namely steviol glycoside 

[Latin name]: Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Hemsl 

[Extraction source]: Stevia 

[Plant resource distribution]: Distributed in Shandong, Anhui, Hebei, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, It has been introduced in 27 provinces and regions including Fujian, Hunan, and Yunnan. 

[Active ingredients]: stevioside; Rebaudioside A, D, C, E; dulcoside A 

[Composition of sweet ingredients in stevia]: 

Sweetness elements in the stevioside are all glycosides. Glycoside (glycoside or heteroside) is a compound composed of sugar or a sugar derivative and another non-sugar compound, which is connected through the terminal carbon atom of the sugar. After glycosides are hydrolyzed, they can generate sugar and non-sugar parts. The non-sugar part is called aglycone or ligand (agly-cone, genin). Foreign studies have isolated 8 different types of sweetness elements from the stevia extracts, that is stevioside; rebaudiside A, B, C, D, E. Dulcosides A and B. These 8 elements are glycosides composed by the same diterpene ligands, belonging to tetracyclic diterpenoids. They have a glucose attached to the α-carboxyl group at the C-4 position. , followed by a disaccharide or trisaccharide connected to the C-13 position. Among them, the main ones are Stevioside (Stevioside, referred to as Stv), which has a sophorose molecule connected to C-13, and Rebaudioside A (RebA, referred to as RebA), which has a sophorose molecule connected to C-13. 

There are currently 6 identified sweet components of Stevia: stevioside; rebaudioside A, D, C, E; and dulcoside A. They are all glycoside compounds with the same aglycone, that is steviol. The difference between them lies in the number and composition of bound sugars in the glycosidic bond. 

BENEFITS

Stevia extract contains no calories and is all natural. However, the definition and labeling requirements for “all natural” may vary from country to country. And the stevia extract is also safe, and its safety has been comprehensively reviewed and scientifically proven by many international organizations, including the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Stevia extract has been added to foods and beverages without side effects or allergies. 

Research shows that stevia extract does not affect blood sugar levels or interfere with insulin. Stevia extract does not contain any calories, giving people with diabetes more flexibility in budgeting their total caloric intake and helping to control their weight. No matter how much stevia extract is taken, it has no effect on the glycemic index(GI). Stevia extract is also used in a variety of foods and beverages, and single purpose and use levels may vary in different countries. 

Stevia extract can have a synergistic effect when used in combination with other sweeteners.