steviol glycoside

Steviol glycosides are natural, high-intensity, zero-calorie sweeteners extracted from the leaves of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant. Chemically, they are diterpene glycosides sharing a common steviol aglycone backbone with varying sugar moieties, with stevioside and rebaudioside A being the most abundant. Steviol glycosides primarily act by binding and activating the sweet taste receptor heterodimer TAS1R2/TAS1R3 on taste bud cells to convey sweet taste perception. Beyond their use as sugar substitutes, steviol glycosides have been investigated for potential therapeutic benefits in metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. These effects are partially mediated through the potentiation of the calcium-activated cation channel TRPM5, which stimulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells, as well as the modulation of glucose absorption and insulin sensitivity.

Brand names

SugarO LiteSugarO StrongZerocal SteviaZerova

Other names

ent-kaurene glycosidesrebaudioside Arebaudioside Drebaudioside Mstevia extractstevia leaf extractsteviol glycosidesstevioside