Stevioside

Stevioside is a diterpene glycoside, specifically a beta-D-glucoside derived from rubusoside, where the hydroxy group at position 2 of the allylic beta-D-glucoside is converted to the corresponding beta-D-glucoside. It is a natural sweetener from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to South America, 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose with a bitter aftertaste. It functions as a sweetening agent, antioxidant, antineoplastic agent, hypoglycemic agent, anti-inflammatory agent, and plant metabolite. Chemically, it is an ent-kaurane diterpenoid, a tetracyclic diterpenoid, a bridged compound, and is functionally related to steviol and rubusoside.