Synthesis of rebaudioside-A by enzymatic transglycosylation of stevioside present in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

  • Food Chem. 2016 Jun 1;200:154-8. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.01.033.
Bhaskar Rao Adari  1 ,  Sateesh Alavala  2 ,  Sara A George  2 ,  Harshadas M Meshram  2 ,  Ashok K Tiwari  2 ,  Akella V S Sarma  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2. Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India.
  • 3. Centre for NMR and Structural Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India.
PMID: 26830573 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.01.033
Abstract

Rebaudioside-A is the second most abundant sweet diterpene glycoside (1-3%) present in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, and is now being considered as a possible sucrose substitute due to its pleasant organoleptic properties and associated health benefits. In the present study, a novel in situ enzymatic transglycosylation of stevioside has been developed by pre-treating the stevia leaves with cellulase and adding soluble starch as the glucosyl donor. The results confirm that the transglycosylation of stevioside led to an enrichment in the rebaudioside-A content from 4% to 66%. This was further purified by multiple column chromatography to obtain 95% pure rebaudioside-A. The isolated rebaudioside-A showed concentration-dependent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50=35.01 μg/ml. Thus the study highlights the biotransformation of stevioside present in stevia leaves to rebaudioside-A by a simple, inexpensive and eco-friendly process that has commercial potential.

Keywords
Cellulase; Glucosyl donors; Rebaudioside-A; Rebaudioside-A (PubChem CID:6918840); Stevia leaves; Stevioside (PubChem CID:442089); Transglycosylation.
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