Molecular insight on the binding of stevia glycosides to bovine serum albumin

The interaction of the steviol and its glycosides (SG), steviolbioside, and rebaudioside A, with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques alongside molecular docking. The stevia derivatives quenched the fluorescence of BSA by a dynamic quenching mechanism, indicating the interaction between the stevia derivatives and BSA. The binding constant (Kb) of steviol was 100-1000-fold higher than those of SG. The stevia derivative/BSA binding reaction was spontaneous and involved the formation of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions between steviol and steviolbioside with BSA, and water reorganization around the rebaudioside A/BSA complex. Molecular docking pointed out the FA1 and FA9 binding sites of BSA as the probable binding sites of steviol and SG, respectively. In conclusion, steviol enhanced hydrophobicity and small size compared to SG may favor its binding to BSA. As steviol and its glycosides share binding sites on BSA with free fatty acids and drugs, they may be competitively displaced from plasma albumin under various physiological states or disease conditions. These findings are clinically relevant and provide an insight into the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the stevia glycosides. [Display omitted] •The interaction between BSA and steviol glycosides (SG) has been investigated.•SG and the aglycone steviol quench BSA fluorescence by a dynamic quenching process.•The aglycone steviol binds stronger to BSA than the SG.•Binding involves hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions.•The most probably binding sites of BSA are FA1 (steviol) and FA9 (SG).