Description

Rebaudioside A is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, commonly known as stevia. It is a steviol glycoside known for its intense sweetness and is used as a sugar substitute in various food and beverage products.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Steviol Glycoside: Rebaudioside A is a glycoside derived from steviol, a diterpene. Its chemical structure consists of a steviol backbone with multiple glucose molecules attached.
Chemical Formula: C38H60O18
Molecular Weight: Approximately 804.88 g/mol

Physical Properties

Appearance: Typically a white to off-white powder.
Odor: Generally odorless or with a slight characteristic aroma.
Solubility: Soluble in water and some organic solvents; forms a clear solution when dissolved in water.
Sweetness: Approximately 50-300 times sweeter than sucrose, depending on the concentration.
Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions; retains sweetness and quality over time when stored properly.

Production Process

Extraction: Rebaudioside A is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant using water or organic solvents.
Purification: The extract is purified to isolate Rebaudioside A from other steviol glycosides and impurities.
Crystallization: Purified Rebaudioside A is crystallized to produce a high-purity powder.
Quality Control: The final product is tested for purity, sweetness, and safety to ensure high quality.

Applications

Food: Used as a sweetener in a variety of food products, including beverages, baked goods, and dairy products.
Beverages: Commonly used in soft drinks, flavored waters, and other low-calorie or sugar-free beverages.
Medical: Used in specific dietary products and medical foods to provide sweetness without added calories.
Food Industry: Incorporated into formulations for sugar reduction and calorie control.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Rebaudioside A is generally regarded as safe for consumption and use in food products. It is important to adhere to regulatory guidelines and recommended usage levels to ensure safety. The production process should be conducted with consideration for environmental impact, ensuring that the extraction and purification processes are sustainable and do not result in excessive waste.

INCI Functions:


Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.
Synonyms:

CAS: 58543-16-1