Phytochemical Screening Of Stevia Rebaudiana-Bertoni A Rare Sweetner

Research Article
Sheeja, R.R and Beena Lawrence
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2018.0911.2885
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Stevia rebaudiana, phytochemicals, stevioside
Abstract: 

Nature has store house of remedies to cure all ailments of mankind. Plants are valuable sources of a vast array of chemical compounds they synthesize and accumulate in various parts of plant body. From the ancient ages the plants have been used for medicinal uses and other useful proposes to humans. Phytochemicals known as metabolites present in the plants play a vital part in these processes. The present investigation was carried out to estimate the phytochemical constituents present in Stevia rebaudiana a plant which belongs to the Asteraceae family. Stevia rebaudiana is a herb with incredible sweetness that is gaining very high popularity amongst all type of sweetener users as most ideal substitute for sugar. It is a perennial and endemic, medicinal herb. It is also called as honey plant due to its sweetness. The fresh leaves have a nice liquorice taste. The main sweet component in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana is stevioside. In the present study the methanol extract of the plant was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening. The phytochemical analysis revealed that the presence of alkaloids and tannins in high concentration followed by flavonoids and glycosides, triterpenes and saponins are lesser amounts