Do the different drying conditions affect the sweet compounds in Stevia rebaudiana

Abstract

The major steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside-A) content in Stevia rebaudiana leaves, dried under three different conditions (sun, shade and oven drying) were investigated. Leaf samples were refluxed four times with methanol, followed by extract colour removal through warming it with dichloromethane followed by subsequent cooling. Estimation of stevioside and rebaudioside-A were performed through HPLC analysis of dichloromethane insoluble leaf extract. There was a non-significant difference in stevioside and rebaudioside-A content of the leaves dried under such conditions. However, maximum stevioside content (8.25 %) was observed in leaves dried under sun and minimum (8.04%) under oven drying conditions. Whereas, highest rebaudioside-A (7.50%) was found under oven drying and minimum (7.06%) in shade drying conditions.