Subcritical Fluid Extraction of Stevia Sweeteners from Stevia rebaudiana

Abstract

In this paper, the extraction of steviol glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana, including stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside C, and dulcoside A by subcritical fluid extraction (SubFE) is investigated. A simple, efficient SubFE method is developed. The extraction conditions (extraction phase composition, extraction time, etc.) are optimized. An extraction efficiency of more than 88% is obtained using methanol as a modifier. Determination of stevioside in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana is performed by using the SubFE method developed and capillary electrophoresis.