Identification, quantification, and sensory characterization of steviol glycosides from differently processed Stevia rebaudiana commercial extracts.
Stevia rebaudiana is known for its sweet-tasting ent-kaurene diterpenoid glycosides. Several manufacturing strategies are currently employed to obtain Stevia sweeteners with the lowest possible off-flavors. The chemical composition of four commercial S. rebaudiana extracts, obtained by different technologies, was characterized using UHPLC-ESI-MS(n). The composition of one of the ethanol-crystallized extracts (EC2) was entirely rebaudioside A, whereas the enzymatically modified (EM) extract contained the lowest concentration of this compound (2.7 mg/100 mg). The membrane-purified (MP) extract had the highest content of minor natural steviol glycosides (23.7 mg/100 mg total extract) versus an average of 2.4 mg/100 mg total extract for the EC samples. Thirteen trained panelists evaluated sweetness, bitterness, licorice, and metallic attributes of all four extracts. The highest licorice intensity (p ≤ 0.05) was found for MP. Both samples EC1 and EC2, despite their different chemical compositions, showed no significant differences in sensory perception.
Centro de Aromas y Sabores, DICTUC S.A., Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
María Inés
MI
Espinoza
Jean-Paul
JP
Vincken
Mark
M
Sanders
Cristian
C
Castro
Markus
M
Stieger
Eduardo
E
Agosin
D000328:Adult; D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D036625:Stevia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013649:Taste
D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C012042:steviol
Stevia extracts; UHPLC ESI MS; natural sweeteners; sensory evaluation