title: Steviol glycosides: chemical diversity, metabolism, and function.
abstract: Steviol glycosides are a group of highly sweet diterpene glycosides discovered in only a few plant species, most notably the Paraguayan shrub Stevia rebaudiana. During the past few decades, the nutritional and pharmacological benefits of these secondary metabolites have become increasingly apparent. While these properties are now widely recognized, many aspects related to their in vivo biochemistry and metabolism and their relationship to the overall plant physiology of S. rebaudiana are not yet understood. Furthermore, the large size of the steviol glycoside pool commonly found within S. rebaudiana leaves implies a significant metabolic investment and poses questions regarding the benefits S. rebaudiana might gain from their accumulation. The current review intends to thoroughly discuss the available knowledge on these issues.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, BP 2436, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceunen
authors.forename: Jan M C
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geuns
mesh_terms: D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D036625:Stevia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D006027:Glycosides; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C012042:steviol