Stevia to meet calorie-free sugar need of diabetic patients

Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (Brac), a leading NGO which is the pioneer in developing stevia plant through tissue culture in its laboratory, is expected to go for commercial cultivation of the plant from December.

Brac collected tissue of the plant from Australia one year and six months ago and started cultivation of the plant, especially for diabetic patients in the country.

"We have now decided to go for commercial cultivation of stevia from December next, considering the huge demand of the plant," said Dr M A Razzak Shah, Tissue Culture Specialist of Brac.

Referring to the use of stevia in other countries, he said Japan provides 41 percent of white sugar from stevia while China and the USA use the plant as an alternative to sugar.

Stevia (scientific name: Stevia rebaudiana) is a health restoration plant that has immense medicinal value as its leaves are 300 times sweeter than normal sugar. On the other hand, stevia, a calorie-free sweet provider, is being widely used in different developed countries including the USA, Canada and Japan as an alternative to sugar.

Researchers both at home and abroad found that the green plant could help control blood sugar and glucose level in human body and also help secretion of insulin in pancreas.

It also inhibits the growth and production of some bacteria and infectious organism, including the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. It also could be used for skin care.

Brac, which developed the plant through tissue culture in the country, is marketing the plant under the name of 'Brac Medicinal-11.’