changeadminCandy Leaf (Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)) is a plant recognized for its natural non-caloric sweetening characteristics. Stevia is obtained from the green leaves of the plant and is increasingly being used as a sweetener in many products because of its beneficial properties.
The candy leaf plant also known as the sugar leaf is a perennial shrub and is a member of the Asteraceae family, which includes the aster, daisy, and sunflower.
Candy plant contains diterpene glycosides which are natural, low-calorie sweeteners, with stronger sweetness than cane sugar. Therefore only small amounts of stevia sweeteners are needed to match the sweetness provided by traditional sugar.
Throughout the centuries, people from South America have used this plant as a sweetener in herbal teas.
In recent times, stevia has become a common go-to option for people with diabetes and among health-conscious individuals who want to mitigate the impact of high sugar intake.
The plant is being cultivated as a cash crop in various regions across the globe, including South America, Central America, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. In India, it is widely grown and distributed in Assam and the North Eastern region.
Stevia from Assam is used extensively to sweeten not just Indian products but also exported to countries like China, the USA, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, among others.
Many brands have emerged selling their products with stevia sweeteners, including beverages such as diet sodas, juices and flavoured waters, dairy products such as ice cream and flavoured milk and other foods like cereals, chocolate and taste syrups.
A team of researchers from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, an autonomous research organization of the Department of Science and Technology has unveiled new findings on Stevia’s medicinal properties.
Their study has revealed that Stevia suppresses PKC phosphorylation, which alters downstream pathways that cause inflammation, a significant cause of endocrine metabolic and cardiovascular issues. Protein Kinase C (PKC) is connected to inflammatory, autoimmune, endocrine, and cardiovascular illnesses.
The study shows Stevia’s promise in various endocrine, metabolic, and immune disorders, however, a lot more additional research is required to understand the biological activity of the candy leaf plant.
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