Chemical Profiling and Radioprotective Activity Evaluation of Stevia Leaves Cultivated in Egypt

Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is a perennial shrub native to Paraguay and South America belongs to family Asteraceae. Stevia leaves are also called candy leaf due to presence of steviol glycosides which are 300 times sweeter than sucrose (Lemus-Mondaca et al., 2012). Stevioside is one of the major components of diterpene glycosides present in stevia leaves. It has been approved as food additive in many countries and recently in European Union.(Wölwer-Rieck, 2012). Stevioside was previously reported to have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (Chatsudthipong and Muanprasat, 2009). In addition to that, toxicological studies revealed absence of teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects compared to artificial sweetener (Pól et al., 2007). Accordingly, we investigate the phytochemical components of stevia leaves extract cultivated in Egypt and hepatoprotective effect of stevioside, stevia leaves extract and its butanol fraction against the side effect of irradiation on liver tissue during the radiotherapy.