Stevia : A Miracle Plant for Human Health

Contents: Preface. 1. Stevia: an introduction. 2. Agronomy and post harvest processing. 3. Phyto chemistry and physiology of Stevia. 4. Properties. 5. A natural healthy sweetener and dietary supplement. 6. Toxicology. 7. Uses and forms of use. 8. Present status. Bibliography.

"Stevia is blessing to the world. This small miracle plant is consumed by the many people of the world and from last 1,500 years. The people from South America and United States are using this plant for a decade. It has potential to provide numerous miracles for the improvement of human health in mankind and is confirmed in numerous investigations. Recently, there is a growing demand by the consumers through out the world. In Japan, Stevia is used extensively, they have banned artificial sweeteners. Every year a huge quantity of Stevia is imported from China to Japan. In Canada, it has a great demand and markets. Various products in different forms are being sold in American markets. Many food recipes are available for preparations of delicious food and cookies in USA.

Stevia represents a new opportunity for researchers and farmers alike. A great deal of information relating to production practices and disease control is required to optimize its annual production including use of herbicide and fungicides, optimum planting and harvest times, fertilizer recommendations. Since markets exist for Stevia now, production and optimization must occur in parallel.

The production of remarkably high levels of one class of secondary metabolite is of significant interest for chemists, bio-chemists and geneticists and may prove to be a foundation for the production of new metabolites in the future. Safety issues of Stevia for human consumption remains controversial, there is a clear need for further experimentation with respect to the metabolic fate of steviol glycosides. Stevia has excellent capacities in alleviation, such as, diseases blood pressure, blood sugar, diabetes, stomach problems, toothache, skin diseases etc. Therefore, Stevia is really a gift and blessing of nature to the mankind.

There is a great necessity of promotion of this miracle plant in India, at present in several research institutes have shown its potentiality. Dr. R.K. Maiti has used Stevia powder regularly and found that it has potential to provide vigour and strength to body both physically and mentally. In future, Stevia will be the safest most problem-free sweetener in food and beverage and a wonderful hailing agent of several diseases.

Research needs to be directed in several areas, such as identification of adequate varieties that can be established from seed; development of seed based agro-techniques, proper harvesting and drying procedures for efficient mechanization; development of efficient seed technology; identification of appropriate post harvest processing procedures, natural products of reliable quality." (jacket)