Biochemical, Nutritional and End Use Aspects of Stevia as Potential Natural Sweetener

Abstract

Lifestyle related health matters are among grave challenges to society which are prevalent due to sedentary contemporary habits and poor dietary patterns. Nutritional and health augmenting facets of Stevia rebaudiana as intense natural sweetener have been studied in different parts of world. Current research was designed to enlighten biochemical, nutritional and end use perspectives of well adapted and cultivated indigenous Stevia. Results of this study have established that the chemical attributes include carbohydrates, crude protein, fat, fiber and mineral content. Functional attributes have been well observed with slightly acidic to neutral pH 6.14, exhibits good swelling power, WHC, OHC, Bulk density. K, P, Mg, Na, Fe are found in maximum amount coinciding their ADI. Saturated, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids like Palmitic, Palmitoleic, Stearic, Linoleic, Linolenic and Oleic have been identified in appreciable quantities like 28.31%, 2.17%, 2.39%, 13.65%, 25.48 and 4.95% respectively. Steviosides structure and functional groups determination was done by FTIR and concluded alcohols, alkanes, ketones, amines, esters, carboxylic acids, alkenes, hydroxyl groups as the major functional groups in raw powder and water extracts of Stevia. Appreciable amount of phytochemicals extracted from different solvents exhibited total phenolic and content ranging 24.24±0.48 to 38.22±0.05mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content as 19.88±0.11 to 32.10±0.54 mg CE/g respectively. The antioxidant activity of Stevia is expressed by DPPH (42.41±1.05 to 57.99±1.49% inhibition) and FRAP assay (236.57±1.37 to 345.36±3.27µMol Fe2+/g) respectively. Extracts from water, ethanol, methanol and supercritical were characterized for Steviosides/SGs and found to be in appreciable quantities as Stevioside (665.34±27.27 to 1107.95±50.96 mg/kg), Rebaudioside A (383.38±17.25 to 792.15±38.02 mg/kg) and Steviol (357.26±14.64 to 485.25±22.32 mg/kg). Stevia cookies were prepared by replacing sucrose with Stevia powder (10, 20, 30%), water extract (1, 2, 3%) and supercritical extract (1, 2, 3%). Overall acceptability was good in 10% powder treatments, 3% water and supercritical extracts. Bio efficacy rats modeling trials were done in order to check their impact against hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia disorders. Blood glucose level was reduced from 4.54 to 7.00% due to diets enriched with stevia powder and extracts as compared to control. Moreover, increase in insulin level was observed as 4.27 to 6.13 as compared to control. In hypercholesterolemic rats, up surged cholesterol level was reportedly reduced as a function of Stevia powder and extracts from 1.28 to 5.47%. Substantial increment in HDL, reduction in LDL and triglycerides was recorded in Stevia leaves powder and extracts treatments as 2.79-6.66%, 2.68-4.16% and 3.12-5.36 correspondingly. Therefore it can be deduced from the outcomes that in addition to sweetness, Stevia possess a lot to provide for health betterment. Conclusively, Stevia based products are recommended for health sustenance and controlling the metabolic disorder.