stevia rebaudiana bert. is a subtropical wild plant of paraguay , that possesses a potent sweetener up to 300 times higher than sucrose and has no calories. the molecules responsible for these characteristics are diterpen glycosides, found in leaves and synthesized at least, at initial states, which use the same pathway of the gibberellic acid in which the shiquimic acid gives origin to many aromatic compounds. the acetate is the precursor of the terpens or isoprenoids through the acetate-mevalonate pathway, where steviosides are found. although in this article, an alternative route is discussed. this updating pretends to contribute tools for the understanding of the main pathways of steviol glycosides synthesis.
