SCMS bags patent

KOCHI: The SCMS lnstitute of Biotechnology has received the patent from the Government of India for developing a process for producing  stevioside powder, a natural remedy for diabetes, from stevia leaves (popularly known as honey leaves),” said Prof Pradeep

P Thevannoor, director, SCMS group of institutions. There is enormous scope for commercialising this process, he said.

The white crystal in stevioside powder which is 300 to 500 times sweeter than cane sugar is also useful as a natural sweetener, an alternative to cane sugar, which can be consumed even by diabetic patients.

Excessive level of glucose in blood and the inefficiency of the insulin hormones in the human body to remove the excess glucose are the basic causes of diabetes. In some cases, failure of the pancreas gland to produce insulin can also be the reason. The therapeutic properties of stevioside extracted from the leaves of stevia plant (Stevia Rebaudiana) have already been scientifically proved. It is antihyperglycemic (reduces the level of glucose in blood) and insulinotropic (activates insulin production) and, therefore, can be used by diabetic patients as an effective remedy. The existing internationally known processes for extracting stevioside make use of solvents like methanol and ether. Therefore, traces of methanol remain in the product. Removal of this impurity would need more time and technology and hence the processes are costlier. On the contrary, the process developed by SCMS institute uses water as a solvent and therefore the product is of high purity.

Through modern molecular studies conducted in animals as well as human beings, the superior sweetening and therapeutic properties of stevioside have been established beyond doubt. The purity and the therapeutic quality of the stevioside produced by the SCMS Institute have been examined and certified by the Toxicity Division of Sri Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram. The study report of World Health Organisation has recommended the use of stevioside all over the world.

According to the latest statistics, one in 20 of the world’s adult population suffers from diabetes.

The situation in India is more alarming because every fifth diabetic in the world is an Indian. Besides, the incidence of diabetes in our country is on the rise. Consequently, more and  more people are becoming vulnerable to its further complications like high BP, coronary heart diseases,  loss of eye sight, kidney failure, etc.

Today Japan, Korea, China and the European countries are competing among themselves for developing a winning strategy for marketing this product globally.

So far, we have not been able to exploit the opportunities because no fruitful research has been done in this area in our country.

One kilogram of stevioside costs between `5,000 and `10,000 in the international market.

The molecular research in stevia, started in 2007 at the SCMS institute, is making steady progress with the financial support received from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of lndia, said Dr C Mohankumar, director,  SCMS Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology.