Various parts of plants have a unique taste. Some plants yield natural sweeteners that are much more sweet than the processed sugar. These sugars have unique qualities capable of maintaining good health as compared to the processed sugars.

1. Natural sources
of
Sweeteners
(Sweeteners: Part – II)
Presented by
Dr. Sudhakar Kokate
Director PPRC, India

2. Advantages of Natural Sweeteners
No calorific value
Cause the least possible side-effect
Qualitative & quantitative improvement of
sweeteners is within the reach of biologists
through modern breeding and biotechnology
techniques.
PPRC/INDIA 01

3. Thaumatococcus daniellii (Bennett) Benth.
PPRC/INDIA 02

4. Thaumatocacus danielli (Bennett) Benth.
 Family: Marantaceae
 Miraculous fruit
 Distribution in West Africa
 Aril of fruit
PPRC/INDIA 03

5.  Sweetening principle: Protein – Thaumatin
(Trade name Talin I & II)
 Sweetening intensity: 5000 times than sucrose
 Uses: to sweeten bread, fruits, palm wine, tea,
coffee
Thaumatocacus danielli (Bennett) Benth.
PPRC/INDIA 04

6. Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels
PPRC/INDIA 05

7.  Family: Menispermaceae
 Berry from West Africa
 Sweetening principle: Protein – Monellin
 Sweetening intensity: 1500 – 3000 times
sweeter than sugar
 Taste life: max 24 hrs.
Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels
PPRC/INDIA 06

8. Stevia rebaudiana
PPRC/INDIA 07

9.  Family: Asteraceae
 Cultivated in Japan & S.E. Asia
 Leaves are useful
 Sweetening principle:
 Diterpene glycosides
 Rebaudioside A-E
 Dulcoside A & B
Stevia rebaudiana
PPRC/INDIA 08

10.  Sweetening intensity: 300 times sweeter than
sugar
 Uses: Sweetening drinks, tea, coffee, used for
treating diabetes
Stevia rebaudiana
PPRC/INDIA 09

11. Citrus grandis, Citrus paradisii
PPRC/INDIA 10

12.  From Malaysia, N.E. India
 Common names: Seville orange or Shaddock,
Grapefruit
 Part: Fruit
Citrus grandis, Citrus paradisii
PPRC/INDIA 11

13.  Sweetening principle: Flavonoid derivatives,
Neohesperidin dihydrochalcones
 Sweetening intensity: 600 – 1000 times
sweeter than sugar
Citrus grandis, Citrus paradisii
PPRC/INDIA 12

14. Zero calorie sweeteners
 Brazzein: West Africa
 Curculin: Fruit of Curculigo latifolia from
Malaysia
 Lue Han Cuo: Monk fruit in China
 Miraculin: West Africa
PPRC/INDIA 13

15.  Monellin: Berry from Central & West Africa
 Penadin: Climbing plant from West Africa
 Stevia: Native to South America
 Stevioside: Extract of plant from South
America
Zero calorie sweeteners
PPRC/INDIA 14

16. Polypodium glycyrrhiza D. Eaton
PPRC/INDIA 15

17.  Family: Polypodiaceae
 Known as Liquorice fern
 Distribution: Coastal Alaska, Central
California
 Plant part: Rhizome
Polypodium glycyrrhiza D. Eaton
PPRC/INDIA 16

18.  Sweetening principle: Triterpene glycoside-
glycyrrhizin
 Sweetening intensity: 50 – 100 times as sweet
as sugar
Polypodium glycyrrhiza D. Eaton
PPRC/INDIA 17

19. Polypodium vulgare Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 18

20.  Family: Polypodiaceae
 Wall fern, European polypody
 Useful plant part: rhizome
 Sweetening principle: steroid saponin, osladin
 Sweetening intensity: 3000 times as sweet as
sucrose
 Very low yield
Polypodium vulgare Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 19

21. Myrrhis odorata
PPRC/INDIA 20

22.  Family: Apiaceae
 Known as sweet cicely, sweet cheroil
 Distributed in Europe, West Asia
 Fresh whole plant useful
 Sweetening principle: phenylpropanoid-trans anethole
 Sweetening intensity: 13 times sweeter than sugar
Myrrhis odorata
PPRC/INDIA 21

23. Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)
PPRC/INDIA 22

24.  Tea of heaven
 Distributed in Japan, Korea
 Useful plant part: Leaves
 Sweetening principle: Phyllodulcin, hydrangenol
 Sweetening intensity: 400 times sweeter than
sugar
Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)
PPRC/INDIA 23

25. Perilla frutescens (Linn.) Britt
PPRC/INDIA 24

26.  Family: Lamiaceae
 Known as Perilla mint, wild coleus
 Whole plant is useful
 Sweetening principle: Monoterpene-perillartine
(Perillaldehyde)
 Sweetening intensity: 2000 times as sweet as
sugar
Perilla frutescens (Linn.) Britt
PPRC/INDIA 25

27. Engelhardia roxburghiana wall
PPRC/INDIA 26

28.  Family: Juglandoceae
 E. chrysolepis Hance
 Known as Huang-qui (Chinese)
 Distributed in India, China, Indo-china,
Malaysia
 Leaves are useful
Engelhardia roxburghiana wall
PPRC/INDIA 27

29.  Sweetening principle: Dihydroflavonol
glycoside-neoastibine huangqioside,
neohuangquiside
 Leaves used to make sweet tea
 Sweetness increases on heating
Engelhardia roxburghiana wall
PPRC/INDIA 28

30. Periandra dulcis Mart.
PPRC/INDIA 29

31.  Family: Fabiaceae
 Distributed in Brazil
 Root useful part
 Sweetening principle: Periandrin I-IV
Glycorrhizin
 Used as Liquorice substitute
Periandra dulcis Mart.
PPRC/INDIA 30

32. Tessaria dodoneifolia (Hook & Arn.)
PPRC/INDIA 31

33.  Family: Asteraceae
 Arrow weed
 Distributed in Paraguay, Tropical America
 Young shorts useful
 Sweetening principle: Dihydroflavanol
(Dihydroquercetin-3-acetate)
 Sweetening intensity: 80 times sweeter than sugar
Tessaria dodoneifolia (Hook & Arn.)
PPRC/INDIA 32

34. Abrus precatorius Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 33

35.  Family: Fabaceae
 Known as Crab’s eye, Indian Liquorice
 Distributed in tropics
 Leaves are useful part
Abrus precatorius Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 34

36.  Sweetening principle: Cycloartane glycoside
Glycorrhizin
 Sweetening intensity: 30 – 100 times sweeter
than sugar
Abrus precatorius Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 35

37. Lippia dulci Trev.
PPRC/INDIA 36

38.  Family: Verbenaceae
 Known as Honey herb
 Distributed in Central America, West Indies
 A small shrubby herb, flowers are white
 Aerial parts useful
Lippia dulci Trev.
PPRC/INDIA 37

39.  Sweetening principle: Sesquiterpene-
hernandulcin
 Sweetening intensity: 1000 times sweeter
than sugar
Lippia dulci Trev.
PPRC/INDIA 38

40. Illicium verum Hook F.
PPRC/INDIA 39

41.  Family: Illicinaceae
 Distributed in South China
 A slow growing tree
 Useful plant part: dried fruits
 Used in flavouring liquors and medicines
Illicium verum Hook F.
PPRC/INDIA 40

42.  Sweetening principle: Phenyl propanoid-
trans-Anethole
 Sweetening intensity: 13 times sweeter than
sugar
Illicium verum Hook F.
PPRC/INDIA 41

43. Piper marginatum Jacq.
PPRC/INDIA 42

44. Piper marginatum Jacq.
 Family: Piperaceae
 Dried leaves are useful
 Sweetening principle: Phenyl propanoid-
trans-Anethole
 Sweetening intensity: 13 times sweeter than
sugar
PPRC/INDIA 43

45. Curculigo latifolia Dryand ex Ait.
PPRC/INDIA 44

46. Curculigo latifolia Dryand ex Ait.
 Family: Hypoxidaceae
 Distributed in India and Malaysia
 A rhizomatous polygamous herb
 Useful part: Fruit
 Sweetening principle: Protein “Curculin”
PPRC/INDIA 45

47. Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
PPRC/INDIA 46

48. Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
 Family: Apiaceae
 Known as Fennel
 Distributed in Europe, Mediterranean regions
 A perennial herb
 Fresh aerial parts are useful
 Sweetening principle: Phenyl propanoid-trans-
Anethole
PPRC/INDIA 47

49. Osmorhiza longistylis (Torr.) DC.
PPRC/INDIA 48

50. Osmorhiza longistylis (Torr.) DC.
 Family: Apiaceae
 Also known as Smooth sweet cicely
 Distributed in North and South America
 A perennial herb
PPRC/INDIA 49

51. Osmorhiza longistylis (Torr.) DC.
 Sweetening principle: Phenylpropanoid-
trans-Anethole
 Sweetening intensity: 13 times sweeter than
sugar
PPRC/INDIA 50

52. Fraxinus spp.
PPRC/INDIA 51

53. Fraxinus spp.
 Family: Oleaceae
 European ash
 Distributed in East Asia, North America,
Mediterranean regions
 A small tree
 Useful part: Stem
 Sweetening principle: Mannitol
PPRC/INDIA 52

54. Thladiantha grosvenori (Swingle)
C. Jeffrey
PPRC/INDIA 53

55.  Family: Cucurbitaceae
 Distributed in China
 Tendril climber with root tubers
 Sweetening principle: Cucurbitane glycoside -
mogroside V.
Thladiantha grosvenori (Swingle)
C. Jeffrey
PPRC/INDIA 54

56. Tagetes filifolia Lag
PPRC/INDIA 55

57. Tagetes filifolia Lag
 Family: Asteraceae
 Known as Irish lace
 Distributed in Mexico
 Fresh whole much branched annual herb
PPRC/INDIA 56

58. Tagetes filifolia Lag
 Sweetening principle: Phenyl propanoids-
trans-Anethole and Estragole
 Sweetening intensity: trans-Anethole is 13
times sweeter than sugar
PPRC/INDIA 57

59. Ocimum basilicum Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 58

60. Ocimum basilicum Linn.
 Family: Lamiaceae
 Known as Sweet Basil
 Distributed in old world tropics
 An aromatic herb
 Fresh aerial parts are useful
PPRC/INDIA 59

61. Ocimum basilicum Linn.
 Sweetening principle: Phenyl propanoids-
trans-Anethole and Estragole in volatile oil
 Sweetening intensity: 13 times sweeter than
sugar
PPRC/INDIA 60

62. Taste modifying sugar substitutes
PPRC/INDIA 61

63. These plants have certain chemical principles
which have the property of modifying the taste
of foods, making sour or bitter foods taste
sweet.
They temporarily suppress the sensitivity to
sweet substances
PPRC/INDIA 62

64. Synsepalum dulcificum (Schum.) Daniell
PPRC/INDIA 63

65. Synsepalum dulcificum (Schum.) Daniell
 Family: Sapotaceae
 Miraculous berry / fruit
 Found in West tropical Africa
 Limited food application
 Extraction difficult
PPRC/INDIA 64

66. Synsepalum dulcificum (Schum.) Daniell
 The fruits contain a glycoprotein – Miraculin
which is taste modifier of sour foods with the
sweet taste persisting for 1 – 2 hours
PPRC/INDIA 65

67. Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.
PPRC/INDIA 66

68. Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.
 Family: Asclepiadaceae
 A large woody climber of Asia, Africa and
Australia
 Ovate leaves, yellow flowers, follicles large
seeds winged
 Leaves contain “gymnemic acid” a taste
modifying substance
PPRC/INDIA 67

69. Cynara scolymus Linn.
PPRC/INDIA 68

70. Cynara scolymus Linn.
 Family: Asteraceae
 A coarse perennial herb
 Pinnate leaves, purple flowers
 Native of Mediterranean region
PPRC/INDIA 69

71. Cynara scolymus Linn.
 Taste modifying substance Caffeolocunic acid,
Chlorogenic acid, Cynarin
 Sweet taste persists for 4 – 5 hours
PPRC/INDIA 70

72. Larix decidua Mill. (L. europea) DC.
PPRC/INDIA 71

73. Larix decidua Mill. (L. europea) DC.
 Family: Pinaceae
 A tall conifer of Central Europe
 Taste modifying substance: “Melezitore”
PPRC/INDIA 72

74.  Roots and tubers of some plants contain high
quantity of Insulin which is converted to D-
Fructose, basically better tolerated by Diabetes
than any other carbohydrate
 Therefore, high fructose sweeteners (HFS) are
being developed to suit diabetic nutrition charts
 Diabetic bread, other confectionary using insulin
/ HFS are being manufactured
PPRC/INDIA 73

75. Dahlia
PPRC/INDIA 74

76. Helianthus
PPRC/INDIA 75

77. Inula
PPRC/INDIA 76

78. Cichorium
PPRC/INDIA 77

79. Castanea
PPRC/INDIA 78

80. Carpesium
PPRC/INDIA 79

81. Campanula
PPRC/INDIA 80

82. Thank you!!