Compounds from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves: An overview of non-conventional extraction methods and challenges

To overcome the inconveniences related to its conventional obtainment of natural sweeteners and active com-pounds from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, methods involving application of technology, such as ultrasound assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction, extraction under pressurized conditions by means of pressurized liquid extraction, subcritical water extraction and supercritical fluid extraction have been investigated. In this review, these emerging techniques were analyzed and discussed, the process variables and operational strategies, their impacts on the extraction and their comparison against the conventional techniques were demonstrated. Simplicity and the possibility of operational automation, the use of less energy and solvents, in addition to the reduced complexity of the subsequent purification steps, make up viable alternatives suitable for a possible industrial application. These processes leverage the concept of green chemistry, but still suffer limitations related to acquisition and maintenance costs, in addition to the effects of the action of some of these technologies remaining unexplored.

Automated summary

This review analyzes and discusses emerging techniques for extracting natural sweeteners and active compounds from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, demonstrating their impacts on extraction and comparing them with conventional techniques. These new technologies offer the advantages of simplicity, reduced energy and solvent usage, making them potentially suitable for industrial applications, but they still face limitations.