Stevia

Stevia is a plant with a very strong sweetening power, making it a suitable alternative to refined sugars. The syrup from stevia leaves is a 100% natural sweetener; the compounds in this plant do not lower glucose levels but have an extremely low glycemic index. The sweetness of stevia is measured based on various glycosides, including steviolbioside, stevioside, rebaudiosides AE, and dulcoside. The glycosides present in stevia are not metabolized by the body, resulting in no calories produced. Consuming stevia has zero calories, making it a good option for a healthy diet. The stevia plant does not raise insulin levels, aids in weight loss, lowers blood pressure, combats diabetes and high blood sugar, and is also used in cosmetic and hygiene products.

Isomalt

Isomalt is a powder or granulated sweetener derived from sugar. Although its sweetening power is half that of sucrose, its taste and flavor are quite similar to sugar. Unlike artificial sweeteners, isomalt serves not only as a sweetening agent but also as a bulking agent and texture creator in food products, as well as a filler in tablets and medicines, and a sugar substitute in various edible and medicinal syrups. Isomalt has important physiological properties for consumers, such as: 1- It does not cause or increase tooth decay. 2- It is a slowly digestible carbohydrate. 3- It has only about half the calories of sugar. 4- It has no effect on blood sugar levels or insulin levels. 5- It has beneficial effects on gut and digestive function.

Isomalt is widely used in the food industry, including in gums, chewy tablets, candies, pastilles, nougat, baking products, icing and creams, ice creams and popsicles, creams and fillings, jams, syrups, and more.

Menthol

Menthol is an organic compound that can be synthesized or obtained from mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline, transparent white substance that is solid at room temperature and melts at slightly higher temperatures. Menthol has anesthetic and local anti-inflammatory properties and is used to relieve minor throat irritation. This compound is used widely in cough and cold medications due to its soothing properties, as well as in candy, chewing gum, and various medical products. Although it is solid at room temperature, it can be melted in warm water to produce a strong aromatic vapor. Menthol is only slightly soluble in water but dissolves easily in many organic solvents, including alcohol. While it has very low toxicity, it has significant effects on the body that lead to various therapeutic uses. Another important property of menthol is that it can act as a disinfectant.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural alcohol found in most plant materials, such as fruits and vegetables, and is a very low-calorie sweetener. Xylitol is a pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol and is approximately as sweet as sucrose but has 33% fewer calories, making it suitable for diabetic sweeteners. Unlike other natural or artificial sweeteners, xylitol actively promotes dental health, and regular consumption can reduce the risk of tooth decay by one-third while also helping to remineralize tooth enamel, strengthening teeth. Research shows that chewing xylitol-containing gum can help prevent middle ear infections, one of the most common childhood illnesses. Xylitol is naturally found in low concentrations in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, and it can be extracted from various berries, barley, mushrooms, and as a dry fibrous material from corn husks and sugarcane pulp. However, in industrial production, xylitol is made from xylan, a type of hemicellulose extracted from hard woods, which is then hydrolyzed into xylose and further hydrogenated into xylitol.

Cyclamate Sodium

Cyclamate sodium, with the molecular formula C6H12NNaO3S, is an artificial sweetener that is 30-50 times sweeter than sucrose (brown sugar) and has less sweetening power than other artificial sweeteners. It is often used in combination with other artificial sweeteners, especially saccharin. A common mixture is 10 parts cyclamate to 1 part saccharin; it is cheaper than other sweeteners, including sucralose, and is heat-stable. Health concerns have led to cyclamates being banned in the United States and other countries, and they have also been prohibited in Iran since 1948, although the European Union considers them safe. Sodium cyclamate is made from cyclohexylsulfonamide, produced by the sulfonation of cyclohexylamine, which can be accomplished by reacting cyclohexylamine with sulfamic acid or sulfur trioxide.

Dextrose

Dextrose, with the chemical formula C6H12O6, is a simple monosaccharide formed during the breakdown of starchy foods such as corn, rice, or wheat. This process is usually carried out through enzymatic reactions aimed at isolating this versatile sugar from food. Compared to fructose and sucrose, this sugar is not as well-known, but it exists in many foods we consume daily. Dextrose can be found in both dry and hydrated forms and is the sugary substance derived from corn, created industrially through heat and acids or enzymes breaking down starch and fully hydrolyzing it. Commercially, glucose refers to corn syrup (a mixture of glucose, dextrin, and other sugars), while pure glucose is called dextrose.

Dextrose has many applications in the food industry; it is directly and completely fermented by yeasts. Therefore, it is widely used in products like bread that undergo fermentation processes. Dextrose is used in producing gum, candies, meat products, biscuits, sauces, fermented products, chocolates, jams, and pickles.

Dextrose also has therapeutic uses; it is used in solutions that are injected intramuscularly and can be combined with other drugs to increase blood sugar. Since dextrose is a simple sugar, the body can use it for energy. Doctors may sometimes recommend that a person with diabetes or someone at risk of low blood sugar carry dextrose tablets, as it helps quickly raise blood sugar levels, is useful for treating dehydration, and aids in nutrition combined with amino acids and other food substances. When a person with low blood sugar uses dextrose tablets, their blood sugar quickly returns to normal levels. Doctors can also combine dextrose with many other liquids to create various medications. For example, they can mix dextrose with a saline solution to create a rehydration solution for someone who is dehydrated. Dextrose is also used in other applications such as bath and cosmetic products, skincare and haircare products, and animal feed.

Sorbitol

Sorbitol, or glucitol, is a sugar alcohol that is slowly metabolized in the human body. Sorbitol has a sweetening power that is half that of sucrose and has a calorie content similar to our daily sugar consumption. Sorbitol is highly soluble in water and can dissolve slightly in ethanol. It has about 60% of the sweetness of sugar and less than 30% of its calories. Sorbitol is used as a powder for its laxative properties. It is a white powder that absorbs moisture and is also available in granulated or small pieces. After sorbitol is absorbed by the body, it is converted into fructose, which has a high liquidizing and shaping ability. Sorbitol is derived from the reduction of glucose, substituting a hydroxyl group for an aldehyde group. This compound serves as a sweetener, moisture-retaining agent, texture enhancer, and anti-caking agent in the food industry. Its stickiness and moisture-retaining properties, along with the presence of vitamins B12, B1, and C, have led to its use in the confectionery industry. Sorbitol easily dissolves in water but is difficult to dissolve in methanol and acetic acid. It is the most widely used sugar alcohol and is one of the derivatives of glycosides.

Additionally, this substance serves as a sugar substitute in various foods, including low-calorie and sugar-free options, as well as in pharmaceutical and oral hygiene products, such as toothpaste and chewing gum. Its pleasant aroma and sweet taste are among the reasons for its use in cosmetic products. Sorbitol can help retain skin moisture through osmosis, preventing dryness and improving skin hydration.

Sodium Saccharin

Sodium saccharin, with the molecular formula C7H4NNaO3S, is one of the oldest artificial sweeteners on the market. Saccharin is a non-nutritive synthetic sweetener that appears as a white crystalline powder and is soluble in water. It is approximately 300-400 times sweeter than sugar, so only a small amount is needed for a sweet flavor. A notable point about this sweetener is its low price in the global market. Saccharin is easy to produce and is stable under heat. It has various applications, for example, in the food industry, it can be used as a non-nutritive sweetener and stabilizer. Compared to aspartame, sodium saccharin is heat-resistant and can be used in baking without losing sweetness. This compound is also useful in electroplating as an additive in liquids and metalworking adhesives. For example, it is used in nickel, gold, and palladium plating. In the pharmaceutical industry, this salt is used as a coating for medications. Multivitamin tablets and chewable tablets often contain a small amount of saccharin to