Antimicrobial and anti-tumor activities of stevia rebaudiana bertoni

Over the years, the World Health Organization (WHO) advocated that countries should interact with traditional medicine with a view to identify and exploit aspects that provide safe and effective remedies for ailments of both microbial and non-microbial origins. The medicinal value of plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a definite physiological action on the human body. The most important of these bioactive compounds of plants are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. Many plant leaves have antimicrobial principles such as tannins, essential oils, and other aromatic compounds. In addition, many biological activities and antibacterial effects have been reported for plant tannins and flavonoids. Plants have an almost limitless ability to synthesize aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives. These compounds protect the plant from microbial infection and deterioration. Some of these phytochemicals can significantly reduce the risk of cancer due to polyphenol antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Some preclinical studies suggest that phytochemicals can prevent colorectal cancer and other cancers. One of the potent members of the Asteraceae family is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, which has important industrial uses in beverages, energizers, as well as medicinal uses such as low uric-acid treatment and vasodilator cardiotonic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory roles. The aim of the present chapter was to review the antimicrobial and anti-tumor activities of S. rebaudiana Bertoni.