Stevioside

Stevioside is a glycoside derived from the stevia plant, which can be used as a sweetener.<ref name="pmid23713723">Template:Cite journal</ref> Evidence of benefit is lacking for long-term effects on weight loss and heart disease risks.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

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).<ref name = "EC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stevioside was discovered in 1931 by French chemists who gave it its name.<ref name = "EC" /> The sweetening power of stevioside was estimated to be about 300 times stronger than cane sugar.<ref name = "EC" />

Safety

Since 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not objected to the use of stevia extracts and some purified steviosides, mainly stevioside and rebaudioside, as GRAS for use as an ingredient in manufactured foods.<ref name="Perrier">Template:Cite journal</ref>

See also

• Steviol glycoside