Stevia rebaudiana
Candyleaf
Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as Stevia, is a perennial herb native to South America. Renowned for its intense natural sweetness, its leaves serve as a calorie-free sugar substitute. Beyond culinary uses, this medicinal plant is studied for its potential to support blood sugar management and overall metabolic health.
- Scientific name: Stevia rebaudiana
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Stevia rebaudiana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is identified under the genus Stevia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Stevia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Stevia rebaudiana, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In German, it is referred to as Süßkraut, while in Catalan, it is called estèvia. The Czech language uses the term stévie sladká, and in Danish, it is known as Sukkerplante. Additionally, in Estonian, the plant is commonly called Paraguai suhkruleht.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Süßkraut | Wikidata |
| ca | estèvia | Wikidata |
| cs | stévie sladká | Wikidata |
| da | Sukkerplante | Wikidata |
| et | Paraguai suhkruleht | Wikidata |
| gn | Ka'a he'ẽ | Wikidata |
| hu | jázminpakóca | Wikidata |
| ja | ステビア | Wikidata |
| lt | Saldžioji stevija | Wikidata |
| nl | honingkruid | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Stevia rebaudiana, exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several distinct regions. In South America, it is widely distributed throughout the country of Brazil, specifically within the West-Central and Southeast zones. Its range also extends into Southern South America, where it can be found in Paraguay. Beyond the Americas, the species has established a presence within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in Bangladesh. These varied locations demonstrate the plant's ability to thrive in different subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Stevia rebaudiana, is a multifaceted medicinal herb where various components offer unique characteristics. The most significant part is the leaves, which contain the natural non-nutritive sweeteners responsible for its fame. From these leaves, concentrated leaf extracts are derived to produce pure steviol glycosides for culinary and therapeutic use. While the plant features a slender, upright stem that supports its growth, the roots can also be utilized in certain traditional practices. Additionally, although the plant produces seeds for reproduction, they are not typically the focus of its commercial or medicinal value.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 18
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 13 | ★★★★★ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Stevia rebaudiana has 52 reported phytochemicals identified across 92 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include stevioside, steviol glycosides, rebaudioside A, flavonoids, steviol.
- Total chemicals
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 92
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stevioside | 14 | ★★★★★ |
| steviol glycosides | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| rebaudioside A | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| flavonoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| steviol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| antioxidants | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll a | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll b | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isosteviol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Stevia rebaudiana has 13 reported activities identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antihyperglycemic, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 23
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Immunomodulator | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Stevia rebaudiana has 36 reported medicinal uses identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, blood pressure, blood sugar, cancer, metabolic syndrome.
- Total uses
- 36
- Scientific sources
- 43
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| obesity | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| blood pressure | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood sugar | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| metabolic syndrome | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| weight gain | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensives | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| LDL-cholesterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |