Herbs - Medicinal Plants

Stevia rebaudiana (Stevia). Health benefits

Stevia characteristics. Scientific name. What is the Stevia? Content and active ingredients. Health benefits of Stevia Rebaudiana, contraindications. Preparation and dosage.

Identification and origin of Stevia

What is the Stevia rebaudiana?

Stevia rebaudiana is a shrub that grows about 30 cm high, with composite wrapped flowers with sessile leaves 3-4 cm long, the whole plant is intensely sweet.

It is indigenous to Paraguay where it is known by “sweetleaf” or “sugarleaf”.

Stevia content and active ingredients

Active ingredients containing in Stevia are:
Diterpene glucosides, particularly stevioside (4-10%), rebaudioside (2-4%).
Volatile oils, mainly nerolidol and caryophyllene
Flavonoids: quercetin, apigenin, austroinulin.

Properties and uses of Stevia rebaudiana

Health benefits attributed to Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana is intensely sweetener (the stevioside is 200-300 times sweeter than sucrose).

Mild osmotic laxative. Slightly hypoglycemic and hypotensive, antibacterial.

It is indicated for constipation and as a sugar substitute for diabetics.

Contraindications

It has no known contraindications on the recommended doses. It is recommended as a sweetener.

Preparation and Dosage

Infusion of Stevia: one teaspoon per cup. One or two cups a day.

REMEMBER to always consult your doctor before combining natural products with any other treatment.

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summary characteristics and properties of Stevia.

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References

Constantin J, Ishii-Iwamoto EL, Ferraresi-Filho O, Kelmer- Bracht AM, Bracht A, Sensitivity of ketogenesis and citric acid cycle to stevioside inhibition of palmitate transport across the cell membrane. Braz J Med Biol Res, 11:767-71, 1991.
Ishii-Iwamoto EL, Bracht A, Stevioside is not metabolized in the isolated perfused rat liver. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol, 82:167-75, 1995 Feb.
Ishikawa H, Kitahata S, Ohtani K, Tanaka O, Transfructosylation of rebaudioside A (a sweet glycoside of Stevia leaves) with Microbacterium beta-fructofuranosidase. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 6:2043-5, 1991 Aug.
Jakinovich W Jr, Moon C, Choi YH, Kinghorn AD, Evaluation of plant extracts for sweetness using the Mongolian gerbil. J Nat Prod, 82:190-5, 1990 Jan-Feb.
Melis MS, A crude extract of Stevia rebaudiana increases the renal plasma flow of normal and hypertensive rats. Braz J Med Biol Res, 29:669-75, 1996 May.
Melis MS, Stevioside effect on renal function of normal and hypertensive rats. J Ethnopharmacol, 26:213-7, 1992 Jun.