A method for producing an active ingredient-containing medium from cultured plant cells, selected from the Hoodia genus, is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) incubating a mixture of cultured plant cells of the genus Hoodia and a liquid media in light; (ii) separating the incubated mixture into a first portion and a second portion; (iii) passing the first portion through a tangential flow filter to produce a filtrate containing only media and a retentate containing cultured plant cells; (iv) passing the filtrate through a nano-filter to obtain a nano-retentate having a high concentration of steroidal glycosides; (v) reintroducing some of the nano-retentate into the second portion; and (vi) repeating steps (i) to (v) using the second portion. The medium may be either plant cells or a plant extract.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to sweetener compositions, methods of making same, and products comprising same. In various aspects, the disclosed sweetener compositions comprise a sweetening agent and a taste modulator component. The taste modulator component improves key properties associated with many sweetening agents, including maximal sweetness response; mitigates flavor profile issues such as bitter and/or licorice-like off-tastes; improves sweetness onset rate and lingering sweet aftertaste properties; improves desensitization/adaptation profile issues; and improves body/mouthfeel characteristics. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Provided is a flavor modifying composition including a blend of a water soluble filler including plant fibers; and at least one sucrose substitute of natural source, wherein said flavor modifying composition includes at least 90% w/w of the filler, the amount being determined when said composition is in dry form; and said flavor modifying composition is water soluble. The flavor modifying composition is particularly effective in enhancing sweet taste and/or aroma of a product. Further provided are products including the flavor modifying composition.

Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudiosides M, D, E and I are described. The methods include utilizing enzyme preparations and recombinant microorganisms for converting various staring compositions to target steviol glycosides. The highly purified rebaudiosides are useful as non-caloric sweetener in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.

Natural sweetener compositions are disclosed, which generally include various combinations of steviol glycosides extracted from a Stevia rebaudiana plant; Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk Fruit) plant extract (including mogrosides extracted from such plant species); and an amino acid component consisting of free glycine. The natural sweetener compositions may optionally further include gymnemic acid (such as an extract of a Gymnemic sylvestre herb that includes 25%-75% gymnemic acid). The natural sweetener compositions may consist essentially of those two, three, or four componentsor may be included in beverages, beverage powders, and foods.

Glucosyl Stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The glucosyl Stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavors, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The purpose of the present invention is to: determine the structure of a novel steviol glycoside which is detected from species containing a large amount of Reb. C (also referred to as dulcoside B), and a trace amount of which is capable of influencing the quality of taste; and understand the taste characteristics of said steviol glycoside. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof. ##STR00001##

Sweetener compositions including at least 3% Rebaudioside N by weight based on the total weight of sweetener compounds in the sweetener composition are disclosed. The sweetener compositions are used to prepare sweetened compositions including food, beverages, dental products, pharmaceuticals, and nutriceuticals. Disclosed are methods of preparing sweetener compositions and sweetened compositions including Rebaudioside N, providing improved sweetener flavors, including providing a sugar-like flavor and temporal profile to sweetener and sweetened compositions.

Various organic molecules, ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The invention describes a sweetener of glycosylated steviol glycosides and a rebaudioside in an aqueous solution for convenience of use in the food and beverage industry.