title: Is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni a Non Cariogenic Sweetener? A Review.
abstract: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a small perennial shrub of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family that is native to South America, particularly Brazil and Paraguay, where it is known as "stevia" or "honey leaf" for its powerful sweetness. Several studies have suggested that in addition to their sweetness, steviosides and their related compounds, including rebaudioside A and isosteviol, may offer additional therapeutic benefits. These benefits include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions. Additionally, critical analysis of the literature supports the anti-bacterial role of steviosides on oral bacteria flora. The aim of this review is to show the emerging results regarding the anti-cariogenic properties of S. rebaudiana Bertoni. Data shown in the present paper provide evidence that stevioside extracts from S. rebaudiana are not cariogenic. Future research should be focused on in vivo studies to evaluate the effects on dental caries of regular consumption of S. rebaudiana extract-based products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy. gianmariafabrizio@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Gianmaria Fabrizio
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ferrazzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy. tizianacantile@yahoo.it.|Bambino Gesù Hospital, Division of Dentistry and Orthodontics, Rome 00165, Italy. tizianacantile@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantile
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy. brunella.alcidi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alcidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy. marcocoda@fastwebnet.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coda
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Oral Sciences, Section of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy. ingenito@unina.it.
authors.forename: Aniello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ingenito
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Cupa Nuova Cintia, 21-80126-Napoli, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy. armando.zarrelli@unina.it.|Inter-University Consortium "SannioTech", Apollosa (BN) 82030, Italy. armando.zarrelli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Cupa Nuova Cintia, 21-80126-Napoli, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy. giovanni.difabio@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Fabio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Cupa Nuova Cintia, 21-80126-Napoli, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy. antonino.pollio@unina.it.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pollio
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D000068456:Clinical Studies as Topic; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036625:Stevia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013549:Sweetening Agents
keywords: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni; dental caries; sweetener