Influence of Extraction Methods on the Yield of Steviol Glycosides and Antioxidants in Stevia rebaudiana Extracts

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2015 Jun;70(2):119-27. doi: 10.1007/s11130-015-0475-8.

Abstract

This study evaluated the application of ultrasound techniques and microwave energy, compared to conventional extraction methods (high temperatures at atmospheric pressure), for the solid-liquid extraction of steviol glycosides (sweeteners) and antioxidants (total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity) from dehydrated Stevia leaves. Different temperatures (from 50 to 100 °C), times (from 1 to 40 min) and microwave powers (1.98 and 3.30 W/g extract) were used. There was a great difference in the resulting yields according to the treatments applied. Steviol glycosides and antioxidants were negatively correlated; therefore, there is no single treatment suitable for obtaining the highest yield in both groups of compounds simultaneously. The greatest yield of steviol glycosides was obtained with microwave energy (3.30 W/g extract, 2 min), whereas, the conventional method (90 °C, 1 min) was the most suitable for antioxidant extraction. Consequently, the best process depends on the subsequent use (sweetener or antioxidant) of the aqueous extract of Stevia leaves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Diterpenes, Kaurane / analysis*
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Glycosides / analysis*
  • Microwaves
  • Phenol / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / analysis*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Stevia / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • Ultrasonic Waves

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Diterpenes, Kaurane
  • Flavonoids
  • Glycosides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Phenol
  • steviol