Acid and Alkaline Hydrolysis Studies of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A

Hydrolysis studies of the two diterpene glycosides stevioside and rebaudioside A that were isolated from Stevia rebaudiana were performed using acid and alkaline conditions. Acid hydrolysis was carried out using H2SO4 whereas alkaline hydrolysis was performed using NaOH. Using these methods, partial hydrolyzed glycosides of stevioside and rebaudioside A and their sugar residues were identified from the alkaline and acid hydrolysis studies respectively. The structures of the acid and alkaline hydrolysis products were achieved on the basis of extensive NMR and high resolution mass spectral data, and in comparison with the data reported in the literature as well as TLC comparison with their corresponding standard compounds.