Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni): Sweet medicine for a healthier world

Stevia rebaudiana belongs to the Asteraceae family, originated from northeastern Paraguay and is now grown globally. Its intense sweetness, 250-300 times that of sucrose, comes from steviol glycosides used as non-caloric sweeteners. Stevia offers several health benefits, including weight loss and the treatment of noncommunicable diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The cultivation and production of stevia are rapidly expanding worldwide, due to the aforementioned positive technological and health effects. Stevia offers numerous therapeutic benefits, such as antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory effects. The leaves of Stevia rebaudiana produces zero-calorie ent-kaurene diterpene glycosides and rebaudiosides. These compounds serve as non-nutritive, highly potent sweeteners and alternatives to sucrose. This review article focus on various aspects of stevia, including its nutritional and phytochemical composition, its roles in managing diabetes, and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. It also explores how steviol glycosides influence tumor functions, the pharmaceutical significance of stevia, its metabolism in the human body, its industrial applications in agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals, as well as potential future developments. Additionally, it includes detailed information on the phytochemical components present, such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids and the application of stevia as an ingredient in various food products. • Stevia ( Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a calorie-free herb, 250–300 times sweeter than sucrose, with benefits for NCDs like cancer, T2DM, hypertension, kidney disease, obesity, dental caries, oxidative stress, and has antimicrobial effects. • This review examines stevia's nutrition, phytochemicals, roles in diabetes control, and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, emphasizing its therapeutic value. • It covers stevia impact on tumors, stevia's pharmaceutical use, human metabolism, and industrial roles in agriculture, food, and pharma, along with future prospects.