Abstract
Samples of commercial Stevia Extracts from different countries (USA, China, Japan, France, Brazil and Paraguay) were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by HPLC and UHPLC-MS-MS-QTOF. Extract 03 (Japan) presented the lowest value of total glycosides (GTS = 74.7%) and extract 01 (USA) the highest value (GTS = 99.7%). Extracts 01 (USA) and 05 (Brazil) showed rebaudioside A as the major glycoside, while the other extracts presented stevioside as the main glycoside. In extract 6 (Paraguay), the presence of labdanic diterpenes ( sterebins type B / C, D and I / J ) was identified. In extract 05 (Brazil) the presence of phenolic compounds was observed. Extract 4 (France) with 87.4% of GTS, presented phenolic compounds and also sterebin I / J. Extracts 02 and 07 (China) were the only ones that exhibited the presence of oleamide and estereamide. These results show that commercially stevia extracts available may have a very varied composition, suggesting that many of the functional effects attributed to stevia sweeteners may be due to the presence of other substances, such as phenolic compounds and labdanic diterpenes.
Key words: Stevia rebaudiana, Stevia Extracts, UHPLC-MS-MS-QTOF, ste
