Tag: Glycoside

Derived from the leaves of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant, stevia is approximately 200-400 times sweeter than regular table sugar. It is not a single compound but rather a collection of sweet-tasting chemicals, which are indeed a type of glycoside. The specific group of compounds responsible for stevia's sweetness is known as steviol glycosides.

Rutin, a common flavonoid found in over 70 plant species including buckwheat and citrus fruits, is a biologically active compound known for its antioxidant properties. What is rutin made up of at a chemical level? It is structurally composed of a powerful antioxidant molecule, quercetin, bonded to a specific sugar molecule.