A team of Indian researchers has highlighted the therapeutic properties of Candy Leaf, or Stevia rebaudiana, beyond its natural sweetness.
The team led by Dr. Asis Bala and Prof. Ashis K Mukherjee from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati explored Stevia's effects on cellular signaling mechanisms and found it may offer benefits for various diseases, including endocrine, metabolic, immune, and cardiovascular disorders.
Published in "Food Bioscience," journal, the research identified that the active components in Stevia interact strongly with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), indicating further research is necessary to fully understand its benefits. The IASST in Guwahati is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
The team did the research on Stevia's medicinal properties and its effects on cellular signalling mechanisms to prove the Assam's Stevia's therapeutic qualities.
Currently, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is widely grown and distributed across Assam in Northeast India, from where it is exported worldwide.
The other researchers were Piyali Devroya and Suraj Kumar Chatterjee from IASST, Rahul Singh, Satyabrata Mohapatra, and Sagnik Haldar, all from Emami Limited, Kolkata).
Their multimodal strategy integrated network pharmacology with in vitro and in vivo techniques, showing that the plant used phosphorylation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) to inhibit a crucial cellular signalling route, said the study.
PKC is connected to inflammatory, autoimmune, endocrine, and cardiovascular illnesses. Stevia suppresses PKC phosphorylation, which alters downstream pathways that cause inflammation, a significant cause of endocrine metabolic and cardiovascular issues, as per the research.
The study titled "Candy Leaf - Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni Attenuates LPS-Induced Protein Kinase C Phosphorylation in Mouse Macrophage Cells: Target Search by Network Pharmacology and Validation Using Ex Vivo and In Vivo Assays" shows Stevia's promise in this field for the first time.
The research also found that active Stevia molecules strongly interact with AMPK, highlighting the need for further investigation.
The study reveals an undiscovered facet of Stevia, underlining the necessity for creative strategies and scientific data to support traditional therapeutic practices, according to the researchers.
The North Eastern Council under the Union Government has also highlighted the potential of Stevia cultivation to benefit the northeastern Indian economy due to high demand.
