Stevioside is a
glycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...
derived from the
stevia
Stevia () is a natural sweetener and sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the plant species ''Stevia rebaudiana'', native to Paraguay and Brazil.
The active compounds are steviol glycosides (mainly stevioside and rebaudioside), which ...
plant, which can be used as a sweetener.
Evidence of benefit is lacking for long-term effects on
weight loss
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, by a mean loss of fluid, body fat ( adipose tissue), or lean mass (namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other co ...
and heart disease risks.
Origin
Stevioside is the main sweetener (along with
rebaudioside A) found in the leaves of ''
Stevia rebaudiana'', a plant originating in South America. Dried leaves, as well as aqueous extracts, have been used for decades as a sweetener in many countries, notably in Latin America and Asia (Japan, China).
Stevioside was discovered in 1931 by French chemists who gave it its name.
The sweetening power of stevioside was estimated to be about 300 times stronger than cane sugar.
See also
*
Steviol glycoside
References
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Glucosides
Stevia (genus)
Vinylidene compounds