@article{Peteliuk_Rybchuk_Bayliak_Storey_Lushchak_2021, title={Natural sweetener Stevia rebaudiana: Functionalities, health benefits and potential risks}, volume={20}, url={https://www.excli.de/index.php/excli/article/view/4211}, DOI={10.17179/excli2021-4211}, abstractNote={<p class="Abstract"><em><span lang="EN-US">Stevia rebaudiana</span></em><span lang="EN-US"> is a South American plant, the cultivation of which is increasing worldwide due to its high content of sweet compounds. <em>Stevia</em> sweetness is mainly due to steviol glycosides, that are ~<span style="color: #212121; background: white;">250-300 times sweeter than sucrose</span>. Many studies have suggested the benefits of <em>Stevia</em> extract over sugar and artificial sweeteners, but it is still not a very popular sugar substitute. This review summarizes current data on the biological activities of <em>S. rebaudiana</em> extract and its individual glycosides, including anti-hypertensive, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects and improvement of kidney function. Possible side effects and toxicity of <em>Stevia</em> extract are also discussed.</span></p>}, journal={EXCLI Journal}, author={Peteliuk, Victoria and Rybchuk, Lesia and Bayliak, Maria and Storey, Kenneth B. and Lushchak, Oleh}, year={2021}, month={Sep.}, pages={1412–1430} }